56 THE FLORA OF THE ALPS 



GmeL, with yellowish-green leaves and opaque seeds, 

 common; rivularis, Gmel., with dark green leaves and 

 shining seeds, in Aargau, Vosges, and Black Forest. 



Order XIV ELATINACE^E. 



Flowers small, in the axils of the leaves; sepals and 

 petals 2-5; stamens 2-10; styles 2-5; seed-vessel a 

 septicidal many-seeded capsule. A very small order; 

 not alpine. 



i. ELATINE, L. 



Flowers minute; sepals and petals 2-4. Very incon- 

 spicuous creeping plants, growing in very wet places or 

 under water. 



-". Alsinastrum, L.; leaves in whorls; Western Switzer- 

 land. E. Hydropiper, L. ; leaves opposite, flowers sessile, 

 sepals and petals 4 each ; Western Switzerland. E. hex- 

 andra, DC.; leaves opposite, flowers stalked, sepals and 

 petals 3 each, stamens 6 ; Lake of Geneva. E. triandra, 

 Schk. ; resembling the last, but stamens 3 ; Jura. 



Order XV. LINAGES. 



Inflorescence cymose, flowers regular; sepals 4-5, 

 sometimes united at the base; petals 4-5, distinct; 

 stamens 4-10; seed-vessel a septicidal capsule; leaves 

 always simple and entire. A small order, widely diffused. 



I. LlNUM, L. 



Flowers in dichotomous cymes, very fugacious ; sepals, 

 petals, and stamens 5 each ; capsule splitting into 5 



