150 



BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



and 4 or more ovaries, each containing a single 

 seed, and i style or sessile stigma. The fruit is a 

 small nut. 



Broad Pond-weed — -Potamogeton natans 

 (Plate CXI) 



The species of Potamogeton are very numerous 

 and variable, and special attention has been paid 

 to them by several eminent botanists. The flowers 

 in this genus are furnished with 4 stamens and 

 ovaries, surrounded by 4 scales resembling petals. 

 The leaves grow on long stalks, and vary in shape. 

 The plants swim on the surface of stagnant or 

 slowly-flowing water. 



The Sea-Grass, or Grass Wrack {Zostera marina), 

 one of the few flowering plants inhabiting sea-water, 

 is placed by some writers in a separate Order 

 (Naiadacece). The long grass-like leaves may 

 often be seen among cast up seaweed on the sea- 

 shore. It has no perianth, and only a single ovary. 

 The fruit is a small white nut. 



Sub-class III. Glumiferse 



This section includes the Sedges and Grasses, 

 and may be distinguished by the long leaves with 

 parallel veins, and the scaly bract-like flowers 

 arranged in ears or panicles. 



Order CIV. Cyperacece (10 genera) 



The flowers grow in spikes or racemes, each 

 accompanied by basal bracts. The perianth is either 

 absent, or consists of several long bristles, threads 

 or scales. There are 3 stamens and 1 style with 

 2 or 3 stigmas. Most of the species are found in 

 wet places, or on poor soil. 



Cotton-grass — Eriophorum latifolium 



(Plate CXII) 



The different species of Cotton-grass are found 

 only in boggy places, or in very damp meadows. 

 The white bristles surrounding the flowers grow 

 to a considerable length, looking, after the plant 

 has flowered, like balls of white cotton. The 



