292 FETALOIDE^; 



3. L. campestris (Field Wood-Rush). Leaves hairy ; panicle of 

 3 or 4 dense, many-flowered clusters. Much smaller than either 

 of the preceding. This is one of the first grass-like plants to show 

 flower in spring, when it may be distinguished from all other meadow 

 herbs, by its close clusters or spikes of brownish- green flowers, each 

 of which contains 6 large, light yellow anthers. Pastures ; com- 

 mon. Fl. March to May. Perennial. 



Other British species of Wood-Rush are L. Forsteri (Forster's 

 Wood-Rush), the panicle of which is slightly branched, and bears 

 its flowers solitary ; each capsule contains 3 seeds, having a straight 

 tail at their summits ; it resembles L. pilosa in habit, but is much 

 smaller ; the seeds of the latter plant are furnished with a long 

 hooked tail : L. spicata (Spiked Mountain Wood- Rush) is about 

 the same size as L. campestris ; it has narrow leaves, bears its 

 flowers in a compound, drooping spike, and grows only on high 

 mountains : L. arcuata (Curved Mountain Wood-Rush) is a small 

 and very rare species, found only on the summit of the Scottish 

 mountains ; it bears its flowers in panicles, 3-5 together, on droop- 

 ing stalks. 



Natural Order LXXXVII 



BUTOMACE/E. Flowering Rush Tribe. 



Sepals 3, green ; petals 3, coloured ; stamens varying in number ; 

 ovaries superior, 3, 6, or more, distinct, or united into a mass ; 

 carpels many-seeded. A small tribe of aquatic plants, with sword- 

 shaped leaves and conspicuous flowers. The only British example 

 is the Flowering Rush, described below. 



1. Butomus (Flowering Rush\ Stamens 9 ; carpels 6. (Name 

 from the Greek, bous, an ox, and temno, to cut, because cattle 

 feeding on the leaves are liable to cut their mouths.) 



1. Butomus {Flowering Rush) 



1. B. ambellatiis (Flowering Rush). The only British species. 

 A tall aquatic plant, growing in stagnant water and slow rivers ; 

 not uncommon. The leaves are sword-shaped, 2-4 feet long, and 

 spring all from the root ; the flowers are large, rose-coloured, and 

 handsome, and grow in a simple umbel at the top of a round stalk, 

 which rises several feet above the surface of the water. Fl. June, 

 July. Perennial. 



Natural Order LXXXVIII 



ALISMACE/E. Water Plantain Tribe 



Sepals 3, green ; petals 3, coloured ; stamens varying in number ; 

 ovaries superior, numerous ; carpels numerous, 1 or 2-seeded. A 

 small tribe of aquatic plants, often floating, with long-stalked 



