196 AMONG THE WILD FLOWERS. 
carpels, forming a globose head. Occasionally 
also in rapid but shallow streams the pretty 
plant called Water-Violet, or Featherfoil, HYo¢- 
tonta palustris, is found; the foliage, all sub- 
merged, is handsome, consisting of whorls of 
long leaves with comb-like linear segments, 
pectinate, the spike of pale pink flowers erected 
above the surface of the water. 
_ At intervals along the river banks are seen 
the beautiful tall spikes of the Purple Loose- 
strife, Lythrum salicaria, which gives name 
to the Order LyTurRAcE#, and is of Linn. Cl. 
XI., Dodecandria, having about 12 stamens. 
It should be observed that Linnzus has no 
class for flowers with e/evex stamens, but passes — 
at once from ten to twelve; the number eleven 
seems unknown to structural Botany; and 
although it may be found in some flowers—the 
Cuphea, for instance—these are to be regarded 
as imperfectly developed, the true number 
being twelve. peu. 
In company with the tall growths of the 
river side, and in pools, will be seen the flowers 
of the Yellow Flag, /vzs pseud-acorus, on tall 
round stems, among numerous sword-shaped 
leaves rising from the root. The yellow flower 
