HYDROCHARIDACEA, 79 
pure white: stamens yellow. Female flowers solitary from a sessile 
axillary spathe, on pedicles 2 to 4 inches long: tube of the perianth 
wholly adnate to the ovary, about } inch long, herbaceous; limb of 
the perianth similar to that of the male flowers. The fruit is appa- 
rently rarely perfected, as, though I have frequently looked for it, I 
have never been able to find it mature: it is described as being 
ovoid, attenuated at the apex, 6-celled, and with a somewhat fleshy 
pericarp. 
Frog s-Bit, 
French, Moréne aquatique. German, Gemeiner Froschbiss, 
The popular name of this pretty plant, the Pride of the Water, is well deserved. 
The pearly white blossoms are very ornamental to our quiet streams and ponds in'the 
summer months, and, though not universally distributed, it is very common in some 
counties. This is one of the most desirable plants for the fresh-water aquarium. 
GENUS II—STRATIOTES. Linn. 
Flowers diccious or polygamous. Male flowers 1 to 3 or more, 
pedicellate, from a 2-leaved herbaceous spathe supported on a scape: 
perianth of 6 leaves, the 3 outer oblong, subherbaceous, the 3 inner 
larger, suborbicular, petaloid : stamens indefinite ; filaments free, 
subulate, 12 only (or 13) of them with anthers. Female or sub- 
perfect flowers solitary, sessile, from a 2-leaved herbaceous spathe 
supported on a scape: tube of the perianth herbaceous, adnate to the 
ovary, and extending above it; limb 6-partite, the 3 outer segments 
oblong-oblanceolate, subherbaceous, the 38 inner larger, obovoid, 
petaloid: stamens numerous, usually all abortive, and reduced to 
subulate filaments, or some of them with imperfect or perfect anthers ; 
ovary adnate to the tube of the perianth, attenuated upwards, 6- 
celled; each cell with numerous ovules; style short, cylindrical, adnate 
to the tube of the perianth; stigmas 6, each of them bifid. Berry 
hexagonal, ovoid, 6-celled. Seeds few, attached to the walls of the 
cells. 
An aquatic stoloniferous herb, with more or less submerged, linear, 
tapering, fleshy, brittle leaves, with spinous edges, bearing resemblance 
to those of an aloe. Flowers at length rising ont of the water, with 
large delicate white inner perianth segments. Fruit submerged. 
The name of this genus of plants is said to be derived from the Greek word orpardc, 
an army, because the plant was believed to cure all wounds made by iron weapons. 
Other authors say it is derived from ozparwrne, a soldier, or perhaps orpardc, in 
reference to its crowded sword-like leaves, 
