WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY. 319 



minute scales interposed, the lower of pistils, each ovary with a few small 

 scales at its base, the whole ripening into a spherical head of small nuts, 

 which are wedge-shaped below and with a pointed tip. 



1. TYPHA, CAT-TAIL FLAG. (From Greek word for fen, in which 

 these plants abound.) El. early summer. 2/ 



T. latifolia, COMMON- C. or REED-MACE ; with flat leaves, these and the 

 stem 6- 10 high ; no interval between the sterile and fertile part of the spike. 



T. angUStilblia, NARUOW-LKAVED C. Less common, smaller; leaves 

 narrower, more channelled toward the base ; commonly a space between tho 

 sterile and the fertile part of the spike. 



2. SPARGANIUM, BUR-REED. (Name from Greek for a fillet, al- 

 luding to the ribbon-shaped leaves ) Fl. summer. 1J. 



S. eurycarpum, GREAT B. Border of ponds and streams, 3 -5 high, 

 with panicled-spiked heads, the fertile when in fruit lj" thick, the nuts broad- 

 tipped ; stigmas 2 ; leaves ^' - 1' wide, flat on upper side, keeled and concave- 

 sided on the other. 



stalked base. 



S. minimum, SMALLEST B. Mostly with leaves floating in shallow 

 water (6' -10' long) and flat; heads few; stigma simple, oval; nuts oval, 

 short-pointed and short-stalked. 



II. PETALOIDEOUS DIVISION. Flowers not on a spadix, 

 with a perianth (calyx and corolla), all or part of it usually colored. 



114. ALISMACE^l, WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY. 



Marsh herbs, with flowers on scapes or scape-like stems, in pani- 

 cles, racemes, or spikes, with distinct calyx and corolla, viz. 3 se- 

 pals and 3 petals, and from 3 to many distinct pistils ; stamens on 

 the receptacle. Juice sometimes milky. The genuine Alismaceas 

 have solitary ovules and seeds, and wholly separate pistils. Some 

 outlying related plants differing in these respects are annexed. 



I. ARROW-GRASS FAMILY. Calyx and corolla colored 

 alike (greenish). Anthers turned outwards. Ovaries 3 partly 

 united, or a single 3 - 6-celled compound pistil. Leaves petiole-like, 

 without a blade. 



1. TRIGLOCHIX. Flowers perfect, small, in a slender spike or raceme, bract- 



less. Calyx and corolla deciduous. Stamens 3 or 6, with oval anthers on 

 short filaments. Ovary 3 -6-celled, splitting when ripe from the central axis 

 into as many closed and dry seed-like 1-seeded cells : stigmas sessile. 



2. SCHEUCHZEKlA. Flowers perfect, few and rather small, in a loose bracted 



raceme. Sepals and petals oblong, persistent. Stamens 6, with linear an- 

 thers. Pistils 3, with globular 2 - 3-ovuled ovaries slightly united at base, und 

 diverging in fruit, forming 3 turgid pods. Stigmas flat, sessile. 



II. WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY PROPER. Calyx of 3 

 persistent green sepals. Corolla of 3 deciduous white petals. An- 

 thers turned outwards. Ovaries many, tipped with short style or 

 stigma, 1-ovuled, becoming akenes in fruit. Leaves sometimes only 

 petioles, commonly with distinct blade, when the nerves or ribs 

 are apt to be more or less joined by cross veins or netted. 



