WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY. 319 



minute scales interposed, the lower of pistils, each ovarv 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, OAT-TAIL FLAG. (From Greek word for fen, in which 

 these plants abound.) Fl. early summer. ^ 



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

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



T. angustiiolia, NAKKOW-LKAVKD C. Less common, smaller; leaves 

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

 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. ]\. 



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

 with paniclcd-spiked heads, the fertile when in fruit 1^" thick, the nuts broad- 

 tipped ; stigmas 2; leaves j'-i}' wide, flat on upper side, keeled and coucave- 

 sidc'd on the other. 



S. simplex, SMALLER B. Only N. : in water : erect, sometimes floating, 

 l-2 high, mostly with a simple row of heads; leaves narrower; stigma 

 simple, linear, as long as the style; nuts tapering to both end.s and with a 

 stalked base. 



S. minimum, SMALLKST 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. ALISMACEJE, WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY. 



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

 cles, racemes, or spikes, witli 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 Alismaccai 

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

 outlying related plants differing in the>e respects are annexed. 



I. ARROW-GRASS FAMILY. Calyx and corolla colored 

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

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

 without a blade. 



1. TRIGLOCHIN. 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-cellccl, splitting when ripe from the central axis 

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



2. SCHKUCHZLRIA. 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, and 

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



II. WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY PROPER. Calyx of 3 

 persistent green ,-epals. 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 inure or less joined by cross veins or netted. 



