SPECIES AND VARIETIES. 327 



(292) Alisma. Water Plantain. 



A. Plantago : leaves radical, ovate or lanceolate ; flower- 

 stem 1-3 feet high, with whorled unequal branches, forming 

 a loose pyramidal panicle; flowers rather small, very pale 

 rose-colour, on long whorled pedicels. — Watery ditches, ponds, 

 and edges of streams. Fl. July, August. 



A. ranunculoides : leaves narrow-lanceolate, sometimes 

 reduced to a linear leafstalk; flower-stems simple, with a 

 single terminal umbel, rarely a second whorl below it; flowers 

 larger than in the last, sometimes nearly an inch diameter ; 

 pale purple. — Wet ditches and bogs. Fl. June, July. 



(293) Actinocarpus. Star-fruit. 



A. Damasonium : aquatic, annual ; leaves glabrous, radical, 

 long-stalked, ovate or oblong ; flower-stems erect, 3-9 inches 

 high, bearing a terminal umbel and a few whorls of flowers 

 lower down, the inner segments of the perianth delicate, white, 

 with a yellow spot at the base; carpels six, radiating horizon- 

 tally like a star. — Watery ditches and pools. Fl. June, July. 



(294) Sagittaria. Arrowhead. 



S. sagittifolia : leaves radical, on long stalks, the blade 

 long, sagittate ; flower-stem leafless, erect, longer than the 

 leaves, bearing several distant whorls of rather large white 

 flowers. — Ditches and shallow streams. Fl. July, August. 



(295) Triglochin. Arrow-grass. 



T. palustre : leaves slender, rather succulent, dilated and 

 sheathing at the base; flower-stems J-l foot high, bearing a 

 slender spike of very small, yellowish -green flowers ; ripe fruit 

 linear. — Wet meadows and marshes. Fl. June, July. 



