1110 



ELEUSINE 



ELODEA 



coracana, Gaertn. AFRICAN MILLET. Fig. 1389. 

 Erect, 2-4 ft. high, closely related to and much resem- 

 bling E. indica. Can be distinguished from it by its 

 stouter habit, shorter, broader and larger spikes. Cult, 

 in S. E. Asia for the grain. Beer is brewed from the 

 grain in Abyssinia. In cult, in Amer. as an ornamental 

 grass. Coracana means "pertaining to crows." 



1390. Elliottia racemosa. 

 CXW 



tristachya, Kunth (E. barcinonensis, Costa). Culms 

 tufted, 6 in. to 1 ft. high: If .-blades short, about j^in. 

 wide, obtuse at the apex: spikes broad, mostly 3, 

 digitate, 1-1 ^ in. long, ^in. thick; spikelets closely 

 imbricate, 5-fld. India. Intro, into Amer. on ballast, 

 and in cult, as an ornamental plant. 



P. B. KENNEDY. 



A. S. HITCHCOCK, f 



ELEUTHERINE (Greek free, referring to the sta- 

 mens). Iridacex. Two or three species in the W. Indies 

 and S. Amer., perhaps forms of one; bulbous plants 

 of warmhouse cult., allied to Cipura and Ixia: fls. 

 white, several on a naked scape, the perianth-tube 

 none and the segms. obovate and spreading; stamens 

 attached to base of perianth-segms., the filaments 

 short and free; ovary oblong, 3-celled; style very short, 

 3-branched: Ivs. long, radical. E. plicata, Herb. 

 (Galatea plicata, Salisb.), has a large ovoid bulb: root- 

 Ivs. 1-2, linear to linear-lanceolate, plicate, 18 in. or 

 less long: scape 6-12 in. high; perianth white, 1 in. or 

 less diam., not lasting: something the general habit of 

 Babiana. B.M. 655 (as Marica plicata). 



ELEUTHEROC6CCUS: Acanthopanax. 



ELISMA (suggested from Alisma). Alismacex. One 

 species in W. Eu., sometimes grown in water-gardens. 

 It is known also as Alisma (p. 246, Vol. I) but has been 

 separated from that genus because of its floating 

 rather than erect habit, sub-solitary fls., and character 

 of the ovules. E. natans, Buch., is a slender perennial, 

 with the sts. and developed ovate or oblong Ivs. float- 

 ing: radical Ivs. of the original tuft represented by a 

 If .-stalk which is only slightly or not at all widened at 



the top, every succeeding node producing the floating 

 Ivs. and roots: fls. 1-3 or 5, large, white, with 3 broad 

 obtuse petals: carpels forming a globular head, each 

 with many slender ribs: summer. Of easy cult. 



L. H. B. 



ELLIOTTIA (after Stephen Elliott, South Caro- 

 lina's early and excellent botanist. For a fine portrait 

 and sketch of him, see G.F. 7:204-6). Ericdcese. Decid- 

 uous shrub cultivated for its handsome racemes of 

 delicate white flowers. 



Leaves alternate, entire, without stipules: fls. in 

 terminal racemes; calyx small, 4-parted; petals 4, 

 oblong; stamens 8, with short filaments; ovary 4-cellod; 

 cells 1-ovuled; style slender, exserted : fr. unknown. 

 One species in S. C. and Ga., very rare and local. The 

 Japanese species formerly referred to this gemis are 

 well distinguished by the 3-merous fls. and by the 

 many-ovuled cells of the ovary; they form the genus 

 Tripetaleia. Like Cladothamnus, Ledum and Leio- 

 phyllum, the genus differs from most other Ericaceae 

 in having distinct petals, but is easily distinguished 

 from the genera mentioned by its racemose infl. and 

 other characters. 



Elliottia is very rare in cultivation owing to its 

 difficult propagation; it is not hardy North and seems 

 to grow best in a humid sandy or peaty soil. Propa- 

 gation by suckers, which appear only occasionally. 



racemdsa, Muhl. Fig. 1390. Shrub, 4-10 ft. high: 

 branches slender: Ivs. alternate, oblong, acute at both 

 ends, glandular-mucronate, entire, thin, membranous, 

 3-4 in. long, 1-1 ^ in. wide; petioles slender, grooved, 

 hairy, about 1 in. long: racemes 6-10 in. long, often 

 branched at the base; calyx-lobes short, rounded; 

 petals spatulate-oblong, y<$n.. long. Wet, sandy woods 

 of S. C. and Ga. G.F. 7:205 (adapted in Fig. 1390). 

 B.M. 8413. G.C. III. 51:11. Gn. 75, p. 471. 



ALFRED REHDER. 



ELM: Ulmus. 



ELODEA (Greek, marshy). Hydrocharitacese. Aqua- 

 tic herbs, one of which is grown in aquaria. 



The genus is known in horticulture as including the 

 ditch-moss, an interesting hardy perennial plant found 

 in slow streams and ponds nearly throughout N. Amer., 

 except the extreme north and particularly desirable 

 for home and school aquaria. It is a slender, wholly 

 submerged plant, with branching sts. 4 in. to 3 ft. 

 long, according to the depth of the water. The pis- 

 tillate fls. are raised to the surface by their long calyx- 

 tubes, and float there. The minute staminate fls., 

 which are rarely seen, commonly break off below, rise 

 to the surface, float about, open, and shed their pollen. 

 The fr. ripens below the surface, and the seeds rise. 

 It reached England in 1841 and choked up many canals 

 and waterways, notably the Cam. It was very abun- 

 dant in 1852 and 1853, but declined in the next few 

 years. Ducks, geese and swans are 

 fond of it, and render great service 

 in getting rid of it. It can be used 

 for manure where it grows in suffi- 

 cient quantities. Like many other 

 water plants, it makes heavy buds 

 in the fall (Fig. 1391), which drop 

 to the bottom and grow in the 

 spring. This genus contains perhaps 

 10 species. 



canadensis, Mich. (Andcharis 

 canadensis, Planch. A . Alsindstrum, 

 Bab. Philbtria canadensis, Brit.). 

 WATER-WEED. DITCH-MOSS. WA- 

 TER-THYME. Lvs. in whorls of 3 or 4, 

 or the lower ones opposite, linear, 

 minutely toothed or not, 2-7 lines 

 long, ]/2~2 lines wide: fls. white; 

 calyx-tube of the pistillate fls. 2- 1391. winter-bud of 

 12 in. long; spathes 5-7 lines long. Elodea. (Nat. size) 



