582 ORCHID ACE^!. 



2. STRATIOTES (Water-soldier). Stamens and pistils 

 on different plants ; stamens about 12, surrounded by 

 many imperfect ones ; ovary 6-celled ; stigmas 6. (Name, 

 the Greek for a soldier, from its rigid, prickly, sword- 

 shaped leaves.) 



1. HYDROCHARIS (Frog-Ut). 



1. H. Morsus-rance (Frog-bit). The only British 

 species. A floating aquatic, with creeping stems, round- 

 ish, stalked leaves, and delicate, white flowers which 

 grow two or three together from a pellucid 2-leaved 

 sheath. Ponds and ditches, not general. Fl. July, 

 August. Perennial. 



2. STRATIOTES (Water-soldier). 



1. S. aloides (Water-soldier). The only British 

 species ; growing in ditches in the East of England. 

 The roots extend to some distance into the mud, and 

 throw out numerous rigid prickly leaves, like those of an 

 Aloe ; the flower-stalk is about 6 inches high, and bears 

 at its summit a 2-leaved sheath, containing several deli- 

 cate white flowers, bearing stamens, or one flower only, 

 bearing pistils. It rises to the surface before flowering, 

 and then sinks to the bottom. Fl. July. Perennial. 



ORD. LXXXIII. OKCHID ACE^E. ORCHIDEOUS 

 TRIBE. 



Sepals 3, often coloured ; petals 3, the lowest unlike 

 the rest, and frequently spurred ; stamens and style 

 united into a central column ; pollen powdery or viscid, 

 sometimes raised in masses on minute stalks ; ovary 1- 

 celled ; stigma a viscid hollow in front of the column ; 

 fruit a 3-valved capsule, with 3 rows of seeds. A very 

 extensive tribe of perennial herbaceous plants, with 

 fibrous or tuberous roots, fleshy or leathery leaves, all 

 the veins of which are parallel, and flowers so variable 



