MONOECIA— POLYANDRIA. Arum. 145 



S. minor. Matth. Valgr. v. 2. 483./. 



S. major et minor. Ger. Em.4\6.f,f. 



Narrow Arrow-head. Petiv. H. Brit. t.43.f. 11. 



(3. Sagitta major. Matth. Valgr. v. 2. 482./. Camer. Epit. 875./. 



Broad Arrow-head. Petw. H. Brit. t. 43./ 1 0. 



y. Sagitla aquatica omnium minima. Rail Sijn. 258. 



Small Arrow-head. Petiv. H. Brit. t. 43./ 12. 



$. Sagitta aquatica, foliis variis. Loes. Pruss. 234. t. 74. 



Grass Arrow-head. Petiv. H. Brit. t.43.f 9. 



In ditches, ponds, and the margins of rivers, common 3 but not 

 found in Scotland. 



Perennial. Jiihj, August. 



Root tuberous, nearly globular, with many long fibres, and throw- 

 ing out bulbiferous runners, as observed by Mr. L. Wigg. Herb 

 milky, smooth. Leaves on long, triangular, very cellular/00^- 

 stalks, sha])ed like the head of an arrow, with two sharp lobes 

 pointing downward, and one upward, the latter occasionally less 

 acute. Nothing is more variable than the breadth and size of 

 the leaves, which are diminished almost to nothing when deeply 

 immersed in the water, or exposed to a rapid current. Hence 

 the above varieties mentioned by authors, but which the slight- 

 est observation will discover to be evanescent. Fl. 3 in each 

 whorl, with combined bracteas at the base of their partial stalks. 

 Pet. snow-white, with a violet claw, quite distinct from the 

 calyx, and falling off while that remains. Yet the great Jussieu 

 decrees these petals to be the inner leaves of the cahjx, because 

 the plant is monocotyledonous ; but surely this is no less erro- 

 neous tlian in the Orchidecc. It teaches no truth, for it is an 

 arbitrary violation of common sense. 



This species of Sagittaria a])))cars to be a native of China and the 

 East Indies, as well as of Europe, and perhaps of North Ame- 

 rica likewise. Representations of it, tliat cannot be mistaken, 

 often occur on oriental porcelain, associated with the conse- 

 crated Cyamus, or Sacred Bean, whose history is given in Exot. 

 Bot. v. 1 . 59. The late Mr. Payne Knight, so distinguished for 

 his profound learning, suggested to me, that, as the Cyamus is 

 an acknowledged emblem of fertility and reproduction, the Ar- 

 row-head indicates the contrary, or a destroying power. Tliey 

 are the egg, and the anchor, or arrow-head, so general in archi- 

 tectural ornaments. 



440. ARUM. Cuckow-pint. 



Linu.Gen.470. Juss. 24. Fl.Br.\()23. Tnurn.t.GO. Lani.t.TW. 



Gcertn. t.M. 

 Nat. Ord. Piperita:. Linn. 2. Aroidciv. Juss. 7. 

 Common Oil. of one, upright, sheathing, oblong leaf; con- 



VOL. IV. 1^ 



