. 
402 ILLUSTRATION OF THE BOTANY OF [Commelinacee. 
185. ALISMACE, 
The Alismacee, like the foregoing order, consist of plants found in water, or in moist 
situations, and like them, both in temperate and tropical climates. _ Alisma and Sagit- 
taria, well known European genera, are found in the hot parts, both of the Old and of 
the New World. Damasonium, Juss., has one species in Europe, and the other 
(Actinocarpus, Br.), in Eastern New Holland. Alisma extends from Europe to India, 
whence two or three new species are enumerated by Dr. Wallich, as having been 
found by Dr. Hamilton along the foot of the Himalaya. Alisma Plantago and Sagittaria 
sagittifolia, species common to Europe and N. America, I have obtained from near the 
Dul or Lake of Cashmere ; the former also from the Deyra Doon and the Himalayas, 
while the latter is common in every part of India, and .S. obtusifolia in the southern 
parts; where S. c@difolia, Roxb. (Alisma Hamiltoniana, Wall .), which I have obtained 
in the Deyra Doon, also occurs. | 
The Juncacine#, sometimes separated ~~ a  dinietk family, ‘ait Sleciil near 
Aroidee, are by many botanists considered only a section of Alismacee, Like these they 
are found, though sparingly, in marshy situations, in most parts of the world, Lilea 
in New Granada, Tetroncium in the Straits of Magelhaens, Scheuchzeria in Europe 
and North America, but Triglochin, the most numerous in species, in all parts of 
the world.. 7. palustre, the most common species in Europe, is also the most widely 
diffused, being found in N. America, in Siberia, in the Altai Flora, in Kunawur, as 
well as within the Himalayas, on Kedarkanta: at least the species which I obtained 
from this locality, and named 7. himalense, can HEATON, be afustnenaliet from Euro-. 
pean specimens of 7’. palustre. 
The fleshy rhizoma of some species of this peas is -abtabie. ian one species of 
Sogittaria is said to be cultivated in China for food. (Lindley.) My friend, Dr. Falconer, 
writes me, that in Cashmere als6, the natives collect the roots of a species of Sagittari ia, 
and employ it as an article of diet, or as a substitute for salep. The rhizoma of Alisma 
Plantago, possessed of but little sensible property, has been vaunted both in Russia 
and in America for its sedative and. antispasmodic powers, and as a remedy for 
hydrophobia, but its virtues have never been proved. 
186. COMMELINACE. 
: The seam of this family were placed in Siilhbde by J ussieu, but Mr. Brown ation 
that they agree better with Restiacee in the structure of the embryo, and in their 
sheathing. leaves, formed them into a distinct order. They are found abundantly in 
Bcc tropical parts of the world, prevailing chiefly in the rainy season, which is 
ited to their lax habit and delicate texture. Endlicher has briefly stated, 
that in the Eastern hemisphere they extend from the tropic of Cancer to 35° of S, lati- 
tude; but in the Western hemisphere, and the islands of Eastern Asia, they extend 
to 40° of N. latitude. They are abundant within the limits of the Indian Flora, and. 
extend 
