752 DiOECiA DiANDRiA. ValHsneria. 



ending in the long, sub-erect receptacle of the flower which 

 elevates it above the water while expanded. Stigmas three, 

 lanceolate. The capsule has the appearance of a silique, 

 sometimes murexed, one-celled. Seeds from three to five, 

 oblong-, pointed at each end, lodged as in the leguminous 

 plants ; their attachments I could not discover. 



Note. When the male flowers are ready to expand, the 

 murexed spathe bursts, the flowers are then quickly detach- 

 ed, and swim remote from the parent plants, on the surface 

 of the water, in search of the female flowers, resting on the 

 extremites of the reflexed leaflets of the perianth, and petals 

 of the corol; what a wonderful economy ! 



The Bruhmapoor sugar refiners use this herb, Mhile moist, 

 to cover the surface of their sugars, as clay is used in the 

 West India Islands, and in two or three days the operation is 

 finished exceedingly well. 



4. V. octandra. Willd. iv. 651. Corom. pi. ii. 165. 475. 



Stemless. Xeaues radical, ensiform. (Scape straight. Male 

 flowers octandrous. 



Saivala. Asiat. Res. iv. 275. 



Hind, and Beng. Shyala, Semar, also Halla. 



A grass-like plant, growing in standing, shallow, sweet 

 water. 



Root fibrous, annual. Leaves radical, linear, tapering to 

 a fine point, serrulate, smooth ; from nine to thirty-six inches 

 long, and half an inch or less broad. Male flowers. Pe- 

 duncles or rather scapes axillary, straight, a little compress- 

 ed, the length of the leaves, or more, so as to raise the flowers 

 above the surface of the water. Spathe one-leaved, sub-cy- 

 lindric, somewhat diaphanous, open at top for the unex- 

 panded flowers to pass through, /^lowers numerous, in suc- 

 cession, white, pretty large, pedicelled ; pedicels lengthening 

 when the flowers are ready to expand, so as to elevate them 

 just above the mouth of the spathe. Perianth proper three- 

 leaved ; leaflets lanceolate. Corol three-petal led ; petals line- 



