ALISMACE.E. WATER-PLANTAIN TRIBE. 631 



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. 



ORDER XCILALISMACE^:. WATER-PLANTAIN 

 TRIBE. 



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

 in number ; ovaries superior, numerous ; carpels nume- 

 rous, 1- or 2-seeded. A small tribe of aquatic plants, 

 often floating, with long-stalked leaves, and flowers 

 which in some respects resemble those of the Crowfoot 

 Tribe. Like the Crowfoots, too, they contain an acrid 

 juice, though the roots of some species, deprived of their 

 acridity by drying, are said to be used as food. 



1. ALISMA (Water-Plantain). Flowers containing 

 both stamens and pistils ; stamens 6 ; carpels numerous, 

 1 -seeded. (Name, the Greek name of the plant, and 

 that said to be derived from the Celtic alis, water.) 



2. ACTINOCARPUS (Star-fruit). Like Alisma, except 

 that the carpels are 2-seeded, and spread in a radiate 

 manlier. (Name in Greek having the same meaning as 

 the English name.) 



3. SAGITTARIA (Arrow-head). Stamens and pistils in 

 separate flowers (monoecious) ; stamens numerous ; carpels 

 numerous, 1 -seeded. (Name from the Latin sagitta, an 

 arrow, from the shape of the leaves.) 



1. ALISMA (Water-Plantain). 



1. A. Plantdgo (Great Water-Plantain). Leaves all 

 from the root, broad below, and tapering to a point ; 

 flowers in a compound, whorled panicle. Margins of 

 rivers, lakes, and ponds ; common. A stout, herbaceous 

 plant, 2 3 feet high, with large, stalked leaves, ribbed 

 like those of a Plantain, and a leafless, whorled panicle 



