692 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



or 2 whorls, each of 3 pieces, the inner petaloid. Stamens 

 few or numerous. Ovary inferior, 1 — 9 -celled. Fruit inde- 

 liiscent. Seeds numerous, without albumen. 



Distribution, 8fc. — Inhabitants of fresh water in Europe, North 

 America, East Indies, and New Holland. Examples : — Anacharis, 

 Vallisneria, Stratiotes, Hydrocharis. There are about 16 genera, 

 and 25 species. Their properties are unimportant. 



Natural Order 281. Restiace^. — The Restio Order. — 

 Herbs or under-shrubs. Leaves absent, or narrow. Stems 

 either naked, or more commonly with slit equitant leaf-sheaths. 

 Flowers with glumaceous bracts, spiked or aggregated, generally 

 unisexual. No true perianth, its place being usually supplied by 

 glumes. Stamens 2 — 3, adherent to 4 — 6 glumes, or the latter 

 sometimes absent; anthers generally 1-celled. Ovary 1 — 3- 

 celled, with 1 pendulous ovule in each cell. Fruit capsular or 

 nut-hke. Seeds albuminous, without hairs; embryo lenticular, 

 and terminal. 



Distribution, 8fc. — Natives principally of South Africa, South 

 America, and Australia. None occur in Europe. Examples : — 

 Leptocarpus, Willdenovia, Restio. There are 25 genera, and 

 171 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Unimportant. The wiry stems of 

 some species have been used for basket-making, &c., and for 

 thatching. 



Natural Order 282. Eriocaulace^. — The Eriocaulon or 

 Pipewort Order. — Aquatic or marsh plants. Leaves clustered, 

 linear, usually grass-like. Flowers minute, unisexual, in dense 

 heads, each arising from the axil of a membranous bract. 

 Perianth tubular, 2 — 3-toothed or lobed. Stamens 2 — 6; anthers 

 2-celled, introrse. Ovary superior, 2 — 3-celled. Fruit dehiscent, 

 2 — 3-celled, 2 — 3-seeded. Seeds pendulous, albuminous, hairy 

 or winged; embryo lenticular, terminal. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Mostly natives of tropical America, and the 

 north of Australia. One species is found in Britain — Eriocaulon 

 septangiilare. There are 9 genera, and 200 species. Their 

 properties are unimportant. 



Natural Order 283. DESVAUXiACEiE. — The Bristlewort 

 Order. — Small sedge-like herbs, with setaceous sheathing leaves. 

 Flowers glumaceous, enclosed in a spathe. Glumes 1 or 2. 

 Pale(^ none, or 1 or 2 scales parallel with the glumes. Stamens 

 1 or very rarely 2; anthers 1-ccllcd. Carpels 1 — 18, distinct 

 or more or less united, with 1 stigma and 1 pendulous ovule 

 to each. Fruit composed of as many utricles as there arc 

 carpels. Seeds albuminous ; embn/o lenticular, terminal. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Natives of Anstralia and the South Sea 

 Islands. Examples : — Centrolopis (Dcsvauxia), Aphelia. 

 Their properties and uses are unknown. 



