86 ELATIXACE.E. ( WATliU-WOUT FAMILY.) 



Var. gymninthum (II. frymnanthnm, Engelm. Sf Gray), is a form, or per- 

 haps spetie.'^, witli siriit stfin aiul luamhfs, or olten iinbraiichcd, more clasping 

 iieart-siuipLd stuin-lcaves, and a naked cvnic, tlie lloral leaves being reduced to 

 small awl-sliaped bracts; so that in aspect it apjjroaehcs the next. — Newcastle 

 Co., Delaware, Ctiulii/, and Illinois, A\ //«//, thence southward. 



14. H. Canadense, L. Stem strict (G'-1j' high), with the branches 

 erect ; kacts lunar, 3-utrctd at the base, obtuse ; cymes naked ; jxids rouival-ol^lontj, 

 usuailij much longer than the calyx. — Wot, sandy soil : common. June - Oct. — 

 Flowers deep yellow, 2" -3" broad when expanded. 



Var. mkjor is a large lorni, l°-2° higii, with lanceolate leaves 1^' long, 

 3" wide, the upper acute. — L. Superior, liobbins ; S. New York and southward. 



15. H. Drummondii, Torr. & Gray. Stem and the mostly alternate 

 bushy branches rigid, erect ( 10' - 18 high) ; leaves lineur-subuldte, nearly erect, 

 l-tmved (3" -9" long); Jlowers scatterfd along the upper part of the leafy 

 branches, short-pedicelled ; pods ovoid, not longer than the calyx. (Sarothra Drum- 

 mondii, Gri-r. <)• Ilouk.) — W. Illinois and southward, in dr}' soil. 



16. H. Sarothl'a, Michx. (Orasge-gkass. Pine-weed.) Stem and 

 bushy branches thread-like, wiry (4' -9' high); leaves minute awl-shaped scales, 

 oppressed ; Jluwers minute, mostly sessile and scattered along the erect branches; 

 pods ovate-lanceolate, acute, mucA longir than the calyx. (Sarothra gehtianoides, 

 L.) — Sandy fields : common. June -Oct. 



3. ELODES, Adans. Marsh St. John's-wokt. 



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

 the bud. Stamens 9 (rarely more), united in 3 sets; the sets separated by as 

 many large orange-colored glands. Pod 3-celled, oblong : styles distinct. — 

 Perennial herbs, in marshes or shallow water, with small close clusters of flesh- 

 colored flowers in the axils of the leaves and at the summit of the stem. (Name 

 eXwSr/y, f/roivinq In marshes, accidentally changed to Elodea by Jussieu, who 

 was followed by Pursh, &c.) 



1. E. Virginica, Nutt. Leaves closely sessile or cla.yiing by a broad base, 

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

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



2. E. petiol^ta, Pursb. leaves tapering into a short petiole, oblong: fila- 

 ments united beyond the middle. — From New Jersey south and westward. 



Ordku 17. ELATINACE.E. (Watku-wort Family.) 



Little marsh annuals, tcilh menthranaccous .tlijmles lelween the opposite 

 dotless leaves, minute axillary floirers like Chickweeds, /vw< the pod 2-5- 

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



1. ELATINE, L. Water-wort. 



Sepals 2-4, persistent. Petals 2-4, hypogynous. Stamens as many, rarely 

 twice as many, as the petals. Styles, or sessile capitate stigmas, 2-4. Pod 2 - 

 4-celled, several - manj-seeded, 2 - 4-valvcd ; the partitions left attached to tho 



