FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 21 



strands are often seen on sea l)eaches, furnishes the chief food for the 

 wild ducks, and contriI)utes much to the delicate flavor of the canvas- 

 back. The mode of fertilization in this plant is remarkable. The 

 staminate flower becomes detached while still in the form of a bud, 

 and expands floating on the surface of the water; the liberated pollen 

 soon reaches the pistillate flowers, whose long peduncles have brought 

 them to the surface; after fertilization the scapes contract spirally, so 

 as to bring the young fruit below the surface while it is maturing. 

 (See Figs. 16 and 17.) 



ORDER TRIURIDALES, 



Famil}' Triuridaceae. — Tailflower Family. Two or three genera 

 and few species, entirely tropical. They are terrestrial and sa]irophytic 

 herbs of small size, yellowish or reddish in color and entirely leafless; 

 the flowers are monoecious, borne in racemes, or sometimes solitary; 

 the perianth consists of a single series of three or more segments. 

 The flowers are often fringed, while those of Tr'niria are provided with 

 three long tail-like appendages to the perianth lol)es, thus giving the 

 name to the family. These little plants are interesting to the botanist, 

 but they are of no economic value. 



