THALAMIFLORiE 149 



Thus, within one genus there are two species, one of 

 which has the floral characteristics, numerically, of 

 Dicotyledons, with parts in fours, the other of Mono- 

 cotyledons, with parts in threes, as here. 



Waterwort is found in many parts of Scotland and 

 England, chiefly in the west, but also in the eastern 

 counties. It ascends to a high altitude in the High- 

 lands, and occurs in N. and W. Ireland. 



One may find this plant by the borders of ponds 

 and lakes. It occurs in the freshwater aquatic forma- 

 tion in water which is relatively rich in mineral salts, 

 in nearly stagnant water, being a submerged plant. 

 On upland moors in the Pennines it has been found 

 in hill peat in peat beds with White Birch, Alder, 

 etc., in a forest bed with large stools of the foregoing 

 trees, and at 2450 ft. in Teesdale and Tynedale. 



As an aquatic plant the habit is matted or tufted, 

 the stems limp, rooting at the nodes, creeping, small. 

 The leaves are small, spoon-shaped, inversely ovoid, 

 or oblong, tapered at the base, opposite, longer than 

 the stalk. 



The flowers are minute, globular, stalked, with the 

 parts in threes, rose-coloured, alternate, in the axils. 

 The calyx is divided into three nearly to the base. 

 The three petals are inversely ovate, not much longer 

 than the unequal sepals. There are six stamens. 

 The capsule is top-shaped, three-celled, membranous, 

 the septa evanescent after bursting or adherent to 

 the axis. 



