CLASS IX. ORDER I.I BUTOMUS. 583 



solitary at the axil of the leaves, nearly sessile, or elevated on a slender 

 pedicle, rarely as long as the leaves, erect, smooth, simple, alternate. 

 Calyx of four nearly ligulate obtuse somewhat fleshy segments, of a 

 green colour, shorter than the petals and fruit. Corolla of four ovate 

 white or pale rose coloured petals, concave, closed over the germen and 

 stamens, which are eight in number, opposite, and alternating with the 

 petals. Filaments awl-shaped. Anthers yellow, two celled. Styles 

 very short, and stigmas minute. Capsule longer than the persistent 

 calyx, roundish, convex at the summit, four celled, four valved, be- 

 coming obscurely angular as the seeds arrive at maturity. Seeds 

 about four in each cell, pendulous from its conate base, attached to a 

 central placenta at the crown of the disseppirnents, curved almost 

 double, beautifully marked with longitudinal ribs and numerous trans- 

 verse stria. 



Habitat. Sandy margin of a lake on the South-east side of Llyn 

 Coron, near Abberffraw, Anglesea. Mr. J. E. Bowman, and Mr. W. 

 Wilson. 



Annual ; flowering in August. 



This little plant does not appear to have been observed as a native of 

 Britain until 1830, when it was discovered by Mr. Bowman growing 

 in matted tufts in the station above given, from four to six inches wide. 

 Besides the two species here described there are found on the Continent 

 two others that are probably also natives of Britain ; one is E. tiandra^ 

 Schkur. Leaves opposite, flowers sessile, opposite, triandrous, tri- 

 petalous, seeds smooth and curved. And the other is E. Alsinastrum, 

 Linn. Leaves whorled, flowers sessile, whorled. 



These are amongst the smallest of our native flowering plants ; but 

 although so small, the student will observe there is in their structure 

 much that is beautiful to admire, and curious to excite his inves- 

 tigation ; and while the wanderer, heedless of the minute form of 

 Nature's works, shall pass them unnoticed in his mountain rambles, 

 or in his stroll along the margins of the placid lake, the student's 

 practised eye finds in them rich stores of knowledge and pleasure. 



CLASS IX. 



ENNEAN'DRIA. 9 STAMENS. 

 ORDER I. 



HEXAGYNTA. 6 PISTILS. 



GENUS I. BUTOMUS. LINN. Flowering-rush. 



Nat. Ord. BD'TOME^;. RICH. 



GEN. CHAR. Perianth single, inferior, six-partite, coloured. Stamens 

 nine, six in an outer circle, three in an inner. Capsules six, 



