750 DioEciA DiANDRiA. ValHsneria. 



DIOECIA DIANDRIA. 



FALLISNERIA. Schreb. gen. N. 1491. 



Male spatlie entire, or two-parted. Spadix simple. Co- 

 rol three-petalled, or three-parted. Female spathe as in the 

 male, one-flowered. Perianth three-parted. Carol three- 

 petalled. Styles three or three-parted. Capsule one-cell- 

 ed, many-seeded. 



1. V. spiraloides. R. 



Stemless. Leaves radical ensiform, serrulate. Female on 

 a spiral scape, with a three.toothed spathe; no corol, nor nec- 

 tary. 



A native of Coromandel. 



2. V. alternifolia. R. 



Ramous. Leaves linear, alternate, and opposite at the ori- 

 gin of the branches. 



Hind. Ganj. 



Beng. Rusna-jhanj. 



Found in ponds of fresh water near Calcutta, in high per- 

 pection during- the latter part of the rainy season. 



Root stole-bearing, affixed in the ground, fibrous. Stems 

 filiform, ascending through the water, and of various lengths, 

 but sufficient, when the inundations are not too rapid, to 

 raise the alternate ramifications even with the surface of the 

 water. Leaves alternate, except at the ramifications, and 

 there generally opposite ; those of the stem remote ; of the 

 flower bearing branches approximate; stem-clasping, sword- 

 shaped, serrate, from two to four inches long. So far the 

 male and female plants agree. Male, Calyx common^ 

 spathes axillary, paired, sessile, composed of two valves part- 

 ing when the corollets are ready to be disengaged. Com- 

 mon spadix as in the genus, surrounded with innumer- 

 able pedicelled corollets. Corol five-petalled, unequal, com- 



