48 WATER PLANTAIN FAMILY 



sheaths at base. Flowering stalks naked, 6 to 18 in. high, 

 bearing a long narrow raceme of very small flowers. — Of 

 wide distribution, especially along sea shores; occurs in 

 saline soil at Tuolumne Meadows. 



Two other members of this family may be expected in 

 quiet ponds, such as we have in Eagle Peak Meadows and 

 in Little Yosemite Valley: Scheuchzeria palustris L., with 

 long, grass-like leaves sheathing the stem by a papery base; 

 stem zigzag, terminated by a loose raceme of few flowers 

 with sheathing bracts. Lilaea subulata H.B.K., has very thin, 

 ribbon-like leaves, also sheathing at base, but the flowers 

 are sessile in close, bractless spikes resembling catkins. 



ALISMACEAE. Water Plantain Family. 

 Marsh herbs with broad sheathing leaves from the bases 

 of naked stems. Perianth of 3 greenish sepals and 3 white 

 petals. Stamens 6 or more. Ovaries numerous, each be- 

 coming a 1-seeded dry fruit. 



1. ALISMA. Water Plantain. 



1. A. plantago-aquatica L. Leaves long-petioled; blade 

 ovate or oblong, 2 to 8 in. long, \y 2 to 4 in. broad. Flowers 

 white, small, on pedicels ^ to 1 in. long. Ovaries becom- 

 ing flattened, 17 to 25 in the circle. 



As the ponds dry up in late spring or summer, the Water 

 Plantain sends up its hollow, smooth stem, which branches 

 above to form a loose panicle of small, white flowers, much 

 overtopping the broad, erect leaves. The plants, which are 

 plentiful in the meadows of the Yosemite, Hetch Hetchy, 

 etc., commonly grow to a height of 2 or 3 ft. 



GRAMINEAE. Grass Family. 

 Since the grasses are seldom collected by the amateur, 

 and since the species are difficult of determination, the 

 family is not further considered in this book. 



CYPERACEAE. Sedge Family. 

 The members of this family are mostly known as sedges. 

 They resemble grasses but are easily distinguished by the 

 characters stated in the key to the families. Because of 

 the difficulty of their determination, especially for the ama- 

 teur, they are here omitted. 



LEMNACEAE. Duckweed Family. 

 The plants of the Duckweed Family consist of minute, 

 stemless fronds which produce a few flowers from the edge 



