3 to 6 subulate rudiments; anthers linear, apiculate, 2-4 mm. long; ovary inferior, 

 6- to 9-celled; stigmas filiform, as many as the cells, deeply 2-parted, 1—1.5 cm. 

 long, papillose-ciliate; berry ovoid, many-seeded, 1-1.5 cm. long, on a stout 

 recurved peduncle. 



In shallow mostly stagnant water of quiet lakes, ponds, lagoons and ditches in 

 e. Tex., June-Oct.; from Ont. and N.J., s. to Fla., Tex., Mo. and 111. 



The dense growth often formed by this species provides an excellent habitat for 

 small animal life, which apparently attracts marshbirds. The seeds are eaten by 

 wildfowl. 



2. Vallisneria L. Tapegrass. Eelgrass 

 Two species, one native to America, another in the Old World. 



1. Vallisneria americana Michx. Water-celery. Fig. 72. 



Aquatic dioecious submerged plant from perennial stoloniferous rootstocks with 

 fibrous roots and fleshy propagating buds; leaves in basal clusters, linear, obtuse, 

 thin, ribbonlike, flaccid, entirely submerged or with the upper part floating, to 

 about 6 dm. long and 2 cm. wide, somewhat nerved and netted-veined, often 

 minutely denticulate on the margin; staminate spathes 2- or 3-parted, bluntly 

 acuminate, 1-2 cm. long, on thick clavate scapes to 5 cm. long; staminate flowers 

 numerous, crowded on a short-pedunculate spadix, enclosed in the spathe, 

 detached at maturity and floating and expanding on the surface of the water; 

 perianth of 3 sepals; stamens 1 to 3; peduncles of the pistillate plant to 1 m. long, 

 curved but scarcely spirally twisted in fruit; spathe 2-cleft, 2-2.5 cm. long, rather 

 loose; pistillate flowers solitary in the spathe, floating on the water; hypanthium 

 linear-cylindric, in flower 2.5-3 cm. long, fully 2 mm. thick, in fruit about 1 dm. 

 long; sepals 3, fused to the inferior ovary, oval, 5-6 mm. long, rounded at the 

 apex; petals 3, about 2 mm. long; ovary 1-celled, cylindric; stigmas 3, large, about 

 5 mm. long, 2-cleft to near the base with each division obliquely obovate and 

 abruptly short-acuminate; fruits cylindric, indehiscent, 8-18 cm. long. V. spiralis 

 of auth. 



In lakes and beds of flowing streams, rare in the e. half of Tex., N.M. (Rio 

 Arriba Co.) and recently discovered in Ariz. (Maricopa Co.), Apr. -July; from 

 N.B., w. to N.D., N.M. and Ariz., s. lO Fla. and Tex. 



In our region, this species is too rare to be of much value to wild life. However, 

 where it occurs abundantly in the north all parts of the plant are relished by 

 many species of waterfowl. It is also eaten by muskrats and is a valuable food 

 for fish. Diving ducks are said to be especially fond of the growing tips of the 

 rootstocks. The plants also attract various marsh- and shore-birds, and they also 

 provide a habitat for minute animal life. 



3. Egeria Planch. 



Two species that are native to South America. 



1. Egeria densa Planch. Fig. 73. 



Perennial submerged aquatic herb of fresh water, dioecious, rooting on the 

 bottom or drifting when broken loose; stems terete, slender, 2-3 mm. thick, 

 ascending, simple or sparingly dichotomously branched; lower leaves opposite or 

 in whorls of 3; middle and upper leaves in whorls of 4 to 6, sessile, crowded, 

 pellucid, linear-elliptic to linear-lanceolate, subobtuse to acuminate, serrulate, to 

 4 cm. long and 5 mm. wide, much longer than the internodes; flowers unisexual; 

 staminate spathes funnelform, sessile, 2- to 4-flowered, borne in the npper axils, 

 to 12 mm. long and 3.5 mm. broad, cleft on one side, the apex bifid; flowers 

 stipitate, borne to the surface of the water on a threadlike hypanthium 3-6 cm. 



161 



