THE WATER-FEATHEIfWEED FAMILY. 283 



7. Square-stalked Willow-herb — (Epildbium tetrdgonum.) 



Sides of ditches and ponds, and in other watery and marshy places, 



common. Fl. July. 



Curtis, i. 05 ; E. B. xxviii. 1948. 



8. Marsh Willow-herb — [Ejnldhium ^mliistre.) 

 In similar situations, and equally common. Fl. July. 

 E. B. V. 340. 



The charming fuchsia, with its pendants of crimson, purple, or white, Uke the 

 descending fires of some splendid sky-rocket, is foremost in this beautiful family, 

 and embodies all its best characteristics. It has been known in this country, in 

 its oldest species, the Fuchsia coccinea, for above seventy years, having been 

 introduced from Chili in 1788. There are now nearly twenty other species in 

 cultivation, with innumerable varieties and hybrids. The prettiest, after the old 

 scarlet, is the hybrid glob6sa ; and the most remarkable species, the Fuchsia 

 fulgens, of Mexico. The Fuchsia excorticata, of New Zealand, has flowers of a 

 dull greenish-purple hue. Next in interest come the (Enotheras, the yellow- 

 flowered species of which handsome genus are com'nonly called " Evening prim- 

 roses," and after these the lovely Clarkias. The tetramerous structure, eight 

 stamens, and inferior ovary, at once distinguish them from all other inmates 

 of the garden. Several other willow-herbs, in addition to the rosebay, are com- 

 monly cultivated, and occasionally, a curious httle crimson-flowered annual, with 

 only one perfect stamen, called Lopezia. 



LXXXV.— THE WATER-FEATHERWEED FAMILY. Halordgece. 



An inconspicuous family of about seventy aquatic and half-aquatic 

 plants, found in ponds and ditches in almost all temperate countries, 

 with flowers like those of the Fuchsia Family in general structure, but 

 distinguished by their sessile stigmas and minute calyx. The blos- 

 soms are generally very small and insignificant, and in many cases 

 deficient in some of the parts, some being unisexual by defect. One 

 of this family, the mare's-tail, or Hippuris, presents the simplest 

 known condition of a flower, having but a single stamen, and a single 

 carpel, no petals, and a calyx of the smallest size. 



Four species grow wild in England, and three of them near Man- 

 chester. They are aquatics, living wholly submerged, except when 

 the flowers are raised above the surface of the water, with long, slender, 

 much-branched stems, and whorled, sessile, finely- pectinated leaves, 

 which render them exceedingly pretty for the aquarium. The flowers 

 are minute, sessile, and unisexual, the upper ones having stamens only, 

 the lower ones only pistils. 



