i 44 FLOWERS OF LAKES, RIVERS, ETC. 



bloom in July and August. A herbaceous perennial, the plant is 

 propagated by seeds. 



The stigma ripens first, and self-pollination is avoided. The flowers 

 are pollinated by the wind. The flowers are in spherical heads, the 

 male above. There are 3-6 stamens, which are alternate with 3-6 

 perianth-scales, and the connective is scarcely produced. The stigma 

 is linear. The anthers open laterally. The female flower consists 

 of 1-2 carpels, i ovule, pendulous near the base of the ovary. 



The fruits are drupes which fall when ripe to the earth or water, 

 being thus dispersed. A few may be dispersed by birds. 



Branched Bur-reed is aquatic, and a peat-loving plant growing in 

 peat soil or in water half-submerged. 



Several beetles, Telmatophilus sparganii, 7". schonherri, Donacia 

 vulgariS) D. cinerea, Lepidoptera, Gold Spot (Ptusia festucfz), Nonagria 

 sparganii, Orthotcelia sparganella, and a fly, Sivmlia reptans, are found 

 on it. 



Sparganium, Dioscorides, is from the Greek sparganon, band, from 

 the long narrow leaves, and ercctiun refers co the upright flower-heads. 



Some names given to the plant are Becle-sedge, Bur-flag, Bur-reed, 

 Reed Grass, Knop Sedge, Seg or Seggs, Seggin. The first name 

 refers to the large beadlike fruits, as also does Bur-reed. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



310. Sparganium erectum, L. Stem erect, branched above, leaves 

 triquetrous below, side concave, male flowers in heads, brown, sessile, 

 upper heads barren. 



Sweet Flag (Acorus Calamus, L.) 



The distribution of this rather local aquatic plant, which is known 

 only from its modern occurrence, is N. Temperate Europe (except 

 Greece), N. Asia, eastward to the Himalayas, N. America. In Great 

 Britain it grows in N. Somerset only in the Peninsula province; in 

 N. Wilts, Dorset, Hants in the Channel; in the Thames province, not 

 in Kent, Herts; in Anglia, in W. Suffolk, Cambridge, Hunts, North- 

 ampton; in the Severn province, in Warwick, Stafford, Salop; Car- 

 narvon, in N. Wales; in the Trent province, except in Lines; in the 

 H umber province, except Mid and N.W. Yorks, and elsewhere 

 generally from York and Lancaster to Somerset and Sussex. It is 

 naturalized in Scotland and Ireland. Considered by Bentham native 

 in the East counties, Ludwig says it is descended in Europe from 

 a plant brought by Clusius from the East. 



