52 ELATIN A.CFJE. ( WATER-WORT FAMILY.) 



pods ovate-lanceolate, acute, much longer than the calyx. ( Sarothra gentianoides, 

 L.) Sandy fields ; common. June - Oct. 



H. GRAVEOLENS, BucJdey, a species with foliage like No. 5, but with large 

 flowers, & H. BLCKLEYI, Curtis, a low suffruticose species with large flowers, 

 both natives of the mountains of Carolina, may be expected in those of Vir- 

 ginia. 



3. ELODEA, Pursh. MARSH ST. JOHN'S-WORT. 



Sepals 5, equal, erect. Petals 5, equal-sided, oblong, naked, imbricated in 

 the bud. Stamens 9 (rarely 12 or 15), united in 3 sets; the sets separated by 

 as many large and ovate orange-colored glands. Pod 3-celled, oblong : styles 

 distinct. Perennial herbs, growing in marshes or shallow water, with small 

 close clusters of flesh-colored flowers in the axils of the leaves and at the sum- 

 mit of the stem. (Name from eXo>8?7S, growing in marshes.) 



1. E Virgllliea, Nutt. Leaves closely sessile or clasping by a broad base, 

 oblong or ovate, very obtuse; filaments united below the middle. (Hypericum 

 Virginicum, L.) Common in swamps. July, Aug. 



2. E. petiolaiil, Pursh. Leaves tapering into a short petiole, oblong : fila- 

 ments united beyond the middle. From New Jersey southward and west- 

 ward. 



ORDER 20. ELATINACEJE. (WATER-WORT FAMILY.) 



Little marsh annuals, with opposite dotless leaves and menibranaceous stip- 

 ules, minute axillary floiuers like Chickweeds, but the pod 2 - 5-cetted, and 

 the seeds as in St. John's- wort. The principal genus is 



1. EL, A TINE, L. WATER-WORT. 



Sepals 2-5, persistent. Petals 2-5, hypogynous. Stamens as many, rarely 

 twice as many, as the petals. Styles, or sessile capitate stigmas, 2-5. Pod 

 2-5-celled, several many -seeded, 2-5-valved; the partitions left attached to 

 the axis, or evanescent. Seeds cylindrical, straightish or curved. (A Greek 

 name for some obscure herb.) 



1. E. Americana, Arnott. Dwarf (!' high), creeping, rooting in the 

 mud, tufted ; leaves obovate ; flowers sessile ; sepals, petals, stamens, and stig- 

 mas 2, rarely 3 ; seeds 5 or 6 in each cell, rising from the base. (Peplis Amer- 

 icana, Pursh. Crypta minima, Nutt.) Margin of ponds, &c., N. Hampshire, 

 to Kentucky. Pod very thin and delicate; the seeds large in proportion, 

 straightish. 



ORDER 21. CARYOPHYLLACEJE. (PINK FAMILY.) 



Herbs, with opposite entire leaves, symmetrical 4- 5-merous flowers, with or 

 without petals ; the distinct stamens no more than twice the number of the 

 sepals, either hypoyynow or pcriyynous ; styles 2-5 ; seeds attached to tht 



