PONTEDERIACE.E. 398 HETERANTHERA. 



A small order of aquatic plants. Leaves sheathing, parallel-veined. Inflorescence 



various, often spathaceous. Of no known use. 



Conspectus of the Genera. 



( solitary SchoUera. 3 



Flowers regular, ( 2—4 logelher in a spathe Heleranthrra. 3 



Flowers irregular, in a terminal spike. PoiUederia. 1 



1. PONTEDE'RIA. 



Perianth bilabiate, tubular at base, under side of the tube 

 perforated with 3, longitudinal clefts, the lower part persis- 

 tent ; stamens unequally inserted, 3 near the base and 3 at the 

 summit of the tube; utricle 1-seeded. 



Named in honor of Julius Pontedera, a botanic author and professor, of 

 Padua, about 1720. Fls. blue, mostly spicate. 



P. corda'ta. 



Leaves subradical, cordate-oblong ; fowers spiked. A fine conspicuous 

 plant, native of the borders of muddy lakes, &,c., growing in patches extend- 

 ing from tlie siiores to deep water. Stem thick, round, erect, arising I — 2 

 feet above the water, bearing a single leaf. Leaves 4 — 7 inches long, \^ — 3 

 wide, very smootli and glossy, almost sagittate, with veins beautii''ully arranged 

 to conform to the margin. Flowers in a spike, arising above the spathe, 

 very irregular. Perianth 2-lipped, each lip S-cleft, always blue, appearing 

 in July. Pickerel-weed. 



ji. angusttfoUa (Torr.) ; leaves narrow, truncate and subcordate at base. 



2. SCHO'LLERA. 



Spathe l-flowered; tube of the perianth very long and 

 slender, limb 6-partcd, equal ; anthers of 2 forms; capsule 

 1-celled, many-seeded. 



Named for F. A. Scholler, a German botanist. Lvs. alternate, sheathing 

 at base. 



S. GRAMi'nEA. Schreh. Leptanthus. Mi. 



Stem floating, rooting at the lower joints ; leaves linear. A grass-like 

 aquatic, in flowing water. Stem slender, dicliotomous, 1 — 2 iect long. 

 Leaves 3 — 6 inches long, 1 — 2 lines wide, obtuse at ape.x, slightly sheathing 

 at base. Flower solitary, issuing from a short (1 inch) spathe. Tube 1^ inch 

 long, limb in G, linear-lanceolate segments, yellow. Stamens 3 (4, authors) ; 

 filaments broad, one of them abortive, the other 2 wit!i linear anthers longer 

 than the thick style. Jl. Aug. YcUoic-eijcd Water-grass. 



3. HETERA'NTHERA. 



Spathe several-flowered ; tube of the perianth long and 

 slender, limb 6-parted, equal ; stamens 3 ; anthers of 2 forms ; 

 capsule 3-celled, many-seeded; dissepiment contrary. 



Gr. iTtga,, otherwise, ai'^ig ; the anthers being dissimilar in the same flower. 



H. RENIFO'RMIS. Ruiz and Favon. Leptanthus. .¥i. 



Slem prostrate or floating ; leaves suborbicular, reniform or auriculatn at 



base; spathe acuminate, few-flowered. Ou muddy or inundated banks. 



