204 PRACTICAL BOTANY. 



Spike (spadix) axillary, 2-flowered, in an inflated 

 spaLlie. Perianth none. Anthers 4, sessile, surrounded by 

 4, at first eessile, at length stalked pistils. Stigmas depress- 

 ed. Leaves capillary, 1 to 2 feet long, with a dilated, slieath- 

 ing base, alternate. Flowers rising to the surface of the wa- 

 ter, at the time of expansion. Ruppia xuaritima, L,. 



544. Leafless, succulent, fleshy, low plants, with jointed 

 stems, growing in salt marshes. Flowers forming club-shap- 

 ed spikes on the thickened upper joints. Scales 1-flowered, 

 appressed, 3 together, and forming a triangle. Stamens 1 or 

 2, protruded beyond the margin of the scale. Styles 2, 

 partly united, short. Salicomia, Tourn. 



Plants leafy 545 



545. Leaves whorled, linear (8 or 12 in a whorl). Flow- 

 ers solitary, axillary. Calyx-limb short, on the top of the 

 ovary. Stamen 1, on the margin of the calyx ; anther large. 

 Style thread-form, received into the groove between the an- 

 ther-cells. Hippuris vulgaris, L. (816). 



Leaves not whorled. Stamen below the pistil. .546 



54G. Flowers on a spadix, surrounded by a spathe. The 

 radical leaves sometimes sheathing, by the petiole, the scape, 

 so as to be, at first sight, mistaken for cauline ones. Berries 



red 550 



Flowers spiked, axillary, or lateral. Herbs with a 

 stem 547 



547. Aquatics. Flowers perfect or monoecious 549 



Non-aquatics 548 



548. Marsh herb. Flowers naked, each consisting of 3 

 or 4 pistils, and 6 to 8 hypogynous stamens, white. Spike 

 terminal, wand-like, lengthened, drooping at the summit. 

 Leaves ovate-oblong, cordate, petioled, alternate. Stem weak, 

 furrowed, 1|- to 2 feet high. Saururus cemuus, Willd. 



Shrub. Flowers in threes, axillary 660 



549. Stamen 1, being a naked, sterile flower, on the out- 

 side of a fertile flower, Avhich consists of a bell-shaped peri- 

 anth with 3 or 4 short-styled pistils. They are sessile in an 

 amplexicaul stipule. A whorl of 3 or 4, longj linear leaves 

 at each joint, subtended by a 2-flowered stipule of the above 

 sort. Stem terete, branching, floating. 



Zauichellia palustris, L. (sis). 



