PONTEDERACE.— PHILYDRACEH.— COMMELYNACEX, 727 
with the embryo immersed—that is, not external to, or in 
a lateral cavity of the albumen. Marsh or water herbs. 
Order 1. PonTEDERACE®, the Pontederia Order. —Cha- 
racter.—Aquatic herbs. Leaves sheathing at the base, with 
occasionally dilated petioles. Flowers hermaphrodite, irregular, 
spathaceous. Perianth inferior, 6-partite, petaloid, tubular, 
persistent, rolling inwards after flowering. Stamens 3 or 6, 
inserted on the segments of the perianth; anthers introrse. 
Ovary superior ; style 1; stigma simple. Frwit capsular, occa- 
sionally somewhat adherent to the persistent perianth. Seeds 
numerous, with mealy albumen. 
Distribution, Numbers, and Properties.—They are natives of 
the East Indies, Africa, and America. Illustrative Genera :— 
Leptanthus, LZ. C. R.; Pontederia, Linn. There are above 30 
species. Their properties are unimportant. 
Order 2. PHttypRACE®, the Water-wort Order. —Charac- 
ter.—Herbs, with fibrous roots. Leaves equitant, ensiform, 
sheathing. Flowers surrounded by aspathaceous persistent bract, 
hermaphrodite. Perianth inferior, 5-partite, petaloid, the two 
upper segments united so that it appears to consist of 2 segments. 
Stamens 3, 2 of which are barren and petaloid, and all united to 
the anterior lobe of the perianth ; pollen united in masses of 
four. Ovary superior, 3-celled, with axile placentas; style 
simple ; stigma capitate. Fruit a loculicidal capsule.  ceds 
numerous, with an embryo in the axis of fleshy albumen. 
Distribution, Numbers, and Properties.—They are natives of 
China, Cochin China, and Australia. There are 2 genera 
(Philydrum, Banks, and Hetzeria, Endl.) and 2 species. Their 
properties and uses are unknown. 
Cohort 5. Commeiynales.—Flowers hermaphrodite, in spikes, 
panicles, heads, or solitary. Perianth regular or irregular, 
of 6 segments in two whorls, 3 outer green or sub-glumaceous, 
3 inner petaloid. Fruit capsular ; placentation parietal or 
axile. Embryo outside the albumen, or in a distinct cavity 
in its side. 
Order 1. CoMMELYNACE®, the Spiderwort Order.—Cha- 
racter.— Herbs, with flattened, narrow, usually sheathing 
leaves. Perianth inferior, more or less irregular, in six parts 
arranged in two whorls ; the outer parts being green, persistent, 
and opposite to the carpels; the inner petaloid. Stamens 
3 or 6, some generally abortive, hypogynous ; anthers 2-celled, 
introrse. Ovary 3-celled, superior ; style 1. Capsule 2—3-celled, 
2—3-valved, with loculicidal dehiscence and axile placentation. 
Seeds few, with a linear hilum ; embryo shaped lke a pulley, 
remote from the hilum, in dense fleshy albumen. 
Distribution and Numbers.—They are chiefly natives of India, 
