Clas^. XX.— UIOECIA. 



OnDER II.— DIANDRIA. 



779. VALISNERIA. Jflkhdi. Z. 



Masc. Spathe ovate, 2-partc(l. Spadix co- 

 verefl with minute ilt)\vors. Calix 3-parted. Fem. 

 Spathe bifid, 1 flowered. Caiix 3-partcd, su- 

 perior. Corolla of 3 petals. Stigmas 3, ligu- 

 late, semibifid. Capsule y-aUeless, I celled, seeds 

 numerous, parietaily attached. (Stamina 2 

 and 6.) 



Submersed aquatics; leaves all radical; scapes axillar\'. 

 Female flowers .soliiary, mosily furnished Mith a spiral 

 fiiiform scapi , stretcljing- or contracting (as in Ki'ppia and 

 * Udora) in order to admit the emersion of tl;e flower; 

 male scape very slsort, and always submersed, the minute 

 florets scarcely (lartjer than the anthers ot the Rose) at 

 length breaking- connexion with the parent plant, rise to 

 the surface, and instantly expanding to the light, acciden- 

 tally float around the other sex and quickly pensh; the 

 period of inflorescence passed, the female at length sinks 

 beneath the water and matures the fruit. 



Species. 1. V. ainericaiia. Leaves linear and obtuse, 

 equal from the base, 3-nerved, margin minutely and acu- 

 Icately serrulate; male pedvmcles very short, female ones 

 spiral. — Apparently a mere variety of V. spiralis. Male 

 flowers very minute, 3-valved. valves concave; stamina 1 

 or 2. Hab. Common m still water, on the margins of 

 rivers from New Y(;rk to Florida, also in Lake Michigan, 

 and probably throughout the Illinois territory. 



Of this singular gtuuis, which ought probably to be dl- 

 vided, there is 1 species in Europe, and 2 in India. 



780. SALIX. L, (Willow.) 



Masc. Ament cy\'w\{\Y\Q, Cato consisting of 



