131. HYDROCHARITACEJ^. [6. Ottelia. 



5. HYDROCHARIS, L. 



Floating tufted stoloniferous herbs with orbicular or reniform 

 entire leaves. Dioecious. Male fls. 1-4 in a peduncled 2-leaved 

 spathe, sepals 3 green, petals 3 membranous Avhite. Stamens in 

 4 whorls of 3 each, the third whorl with sometimes only a one-celled 

 anther, the fourth sometimes staminodial. in addition sometimes a fifth, 

 often incompletely developed, whorl of staminodes, filaments forked, 

 anther-cells basifixed. Centre of flower with 3 spherical glands. 

 Fem. spathe 1-fld., floAver long-pedicelled, perianth as in male, Avith 

 nectaries at base of the petals. 8taminodes 6 in pairs. Ovary ovoid, 

 6-celled, stigmas 6 linear, 2-fid. Fruit ovoid or oblong, fleshy. Seeds 

 many with gelatinous testa full of spiral vessels. Embryo ovoid 



1. H. asiatica, Miguel. Syn. H. morsus-ranse, F.B.I, in part; H. 

 callulosa. Ham ; The Frog-bit. 



Very like the H. niorsus-rance. A pretty floating aquatic with 

 cordate or kidney-shaped leaves 1-1-5" not unlike those of some 

 Limnanthemum. Fls. about 1" diam., M. only 1-2 in the spathes, 

 antheriferous filaments usually 12 and 3 staminodes, filaments not 

 adnate to those of the superimposed whorls. Petals in both sexes 

 rather crumpled, very delicate. 



Frequent in the Jalpaignri district in still waters! and Rajshaye, ClarJcel 

 Probal)ly therefore occurs in Purueah. Tirhut, Prain, but I have seen no 

 specimen unless the place called Singur is in Tirhut. Fl. c.s. 



6. OTTELIA, Pers. 



Herbs Avith submerged and floating leaves, submerged usually 

 narrow. FloAvers large, solitary, sessile in a tubular 2-fid or toothed 

 spathe and partially exsert from its apex. Hypanthium elongate. 

 Sepals narrow. Petals larger broad, white or yellow, base Avith 

 fleshy appendages. Stamens in 3 AA^horls of AA'hich the outer is double, 

 or one or both the inner Avhorls often failing, anthers erect. Ovary 

 oblong, beaked, nearly 6-celled from the intruded AAalls, styles 6 

 linear, 2 fid, ovules many all over the inner surface. Fruit G-valved, 

 enclosed in the spathe. Seeds many, oblong, testa pulpy. 



1. 0. alismoides, Pers. Syn, Damasonium indicum, Willd. 



Rooting at the bottom of streams and tanks M'ith flaccid floating 

 and submerged bright green leaves and prett}^ Avhite floAvers with the 

 perianth exserted fiom a crisped Avinged spathe, 1-5-2" diam. 



Very common in running streams. Purneah ! Shahabad. Shahganj-moat, 

 J.D.il. ! Probably in all districts but flowering in the r.s. aud not often collected, 

 also sometimes fl. Sept. -Dec. 



Leaves variable in shape, submerged sometimes oblong with tapering ba.se 

 or oblong-lanceolate and about a foot long, floating orbicular- or oblong- 

 and cordate 6-7" diam., on long succulent 2-edged petioles. Spathes on long 

 axillary peduncles, tubular Avith about 6 wavy crisped Avings, 1'5" long by 'Ih" 

 diam., shai-piy G-toothed or segments obtuse and cuspidate. Stamens G in three 

 pairs. Fruit oblong-, crowned with the Avithered perianth, 6-grooved, attaining 

 2" diau). 



855 



