72 The Flora of Wiltshire. 



ORDER. HALORAGACE^. (R. BROWN.) 



Mtriophyllum, (Linn.) Water Milfoil. 



Linn. CI. xxi. Ord. vii. 



Name. From myrios, innumerable, and]) hi/ lion, a leaf, in allusion 



to its many cut leaves : thus also English Milfoil, from mille (Lat.) 



a thousand, and folium, a leaf. 



1. M. spicahim, (Linn.) spiked Water Milfoil. Engl. Bat. t. 

 83. 



Locality. In the Kennet & Avon, and Wilts & Berks Canal ; 

 also in clear slow streams, not unfrequent. P. Fl. June, July. 

 Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. More generally distributed throughout the 

 northern than the southern districts of the county. Serb smooth, 

 floating under water, with branching round -sterns, and dark green 

 finely pinnatifid spreading leaves, four in each whorl. Flowers in 

 several whorls rising above the surface, on simple terminal leafless 

 branches, with four small entire bracteas under each whorl. Calyx 

 acute, finely fringed. Petals reddish. 



2. M. verticillatum, (Linn.) whorled Water Milfoil. Engl. Bot. ^.218. 

 Locality. In ponds and watery ditches, not common. P. Fl. 



July, August. Area, * * * 4. 5. 



North Division. 



4. North-west District, " In the ponds at Lacock Abbey," 

 Dr. Alexander Prior. " Flor. Bath." 



5. North-east District, Canal between Swindon and Purton. 

 Not unfrequently passed over for the last species, M. spicatum (L.), 



but the flowering part of the stem, or branches, rises above the water, 

 covered to the top with pmaller, less deeply cut leaves, in the bosoms 

 of which several whorls of flowers are situated, the upper most 

 chiefly with stamens only ; lowermost less numerous, with pistils; 

 intermediate ones often with both. Petals small, white, deciduous. 



HiPPURTS, (Ltnn.) Mare's Tail. 

 Linn. CI. i. Ord. i. 



Name. From hippos a horse, and oura a tail ; in allusion to its 

 mode of growth. 



1. H. vulgaris, (Linn.) common Mare's Tail. Engl. Bot. t. 763. 

 St. 44. i. 



