148 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



inner may be functionless. The anthers are versatile. 

 The ovary is syncarpous, superior, multilocular, with 

 as many ceils as styles, which are simple, and open 

 on maturity by the same number of valves. The 

 ovules are numerous, on the inner angles of the cells. 

 The stigma is pin-headed. The capsule is septi- 

 fragal. The valves are concave or bent inwards, 

 and separate from the axis and testa. The seeds are 

 straight or curved, numerous, with frequently a 

 wrinkled or rough testa or seed-coat. The coty- 

 ledons are very small. 



The group is of no economic importance, but the 

 plants are acrid. 



The type described " six-stamened Waterpepper," 

 has stalked flowers and three petals, with six stamens 

 and a pistil, with three styles. 



The other British species is called '* eight-stamened 

 Waterpepper," and has the parts in fours, with stalk- 

 less flowers, four petals, eight stamens, four styles. 



Both are of local occurrence in Britain. 



Waterwort (Elatine hexandra). 



Like Water Blinks, this plant is probably much 

 overlooked, though it is nowhere a common plant, 

 and may be described as rare. The second Latin 

 name, hexandra, refers to the number of stamens (six), 

 in which it differs from E. Hydvopiper, in which 

 there are eight, with four petals and styles, whereas 

 there are three petals and three styles in this species. 



