342 POPULAR FIELD BOTANY. 
PARNASSIA PALUSTRIS. Common Grass of Parnassus. 
This is one of our prettiest plants, blooming in marshy 
ground and wet places, more frequent in the north than the 
south. From one to eight inches high according to the soil, 
having large handsome yellowish-white flowers, with five nec- 
taries opposite the petals, frmged with white hairs along the 
margin, which are terminated by a yellow pellucid gland. 
Sowerby says, that the seed of this plant is formed “by one 
of the stamens at a time coming over the stigma, and retiring 
again as soon as it has shed its pollen. Its place is then sup- 
plied by another, till all have presented themselves in turn, 
when the stigma closes. Sometimes two come together or 
nearly so.” Leaves mostly at the roots, heart-shaped, on 
long foot-stalks, excepting one on the stem which has no 
stalk. The petals are prettily veined. 
OcTANDRIA. TRIGYNIA. 
MoNOCHLAMYD. POLYGONACEZ. 
POLYGONUM. (Persicaria.) 
Generic Character. See page 217. 
Potyconum pERsIcaRIA. Spotted Persicaria. Very 
