4.")4 WATKll PLANTAIN FAMILY. 



2. TRADESCANTIA, SI'IDEUWOiri". (Named for the gardener- 

 botaiiisl Tradcscant.) Leaves sheathed at the base. 21 



* Umbels sessile at the end of the stem and branches between a pair of 

 leaves, or later also in the loioer axils ; flowering in summer. 

 T. Virginica, Linn. W. N. V., W. and S. ; also in gardens; leaves 

 laiiee-liniar. taperuig regularlj' from the base to the point, ciliate ; umbels 

 terminal ; flowers blue, in garden varieties purple or white. There are 

 forms with broader leaves, lower stature, and pubescent stems and leaves. 



» # Umbels one or two on a naked peduncle. 

 T. r6sea, Vent. Sandy woods, Md., S, and W.; slender, 6'-12' high, 

 smooth, with linear, grass-like leaves, and rose-colored flowers ^' wide. 



3. ZEBRINA. (Name refers to the stripes often present on the leaves.) 

 Z. pendula, Schnitzl. (Tkadescantia zebuina and T. TKfcoLOR). 



\Vam>kuing Jew. Common in greenhouses and window baskets; 

 spreads by branching and rooting freely ; the lance-ovate or oblong 

 rather succulent leaves crimson beneath, and green or purplish above, 

 often variegated with two broad stripes of silvery wliite. Mexico. 21 



CXXII. ALISMACE^, WATER PLAXTAIX FAMILY. 



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

 panicles, racemes, or spikes, with distinct calyx and corolla, 

 viz. 3 persistent green sepals and 3 conspicuous white petals, 

 and many distinct pistils which are 1-celled and mostly 1- 

 ovuled; stamens 6 or more, on the receptacle. Flowers long- 

 stalked, loosely racemed or panicled, with dry lanceolate bracts 

 at the base. Fruit an akene in ours. Leaves sheathing, some- 

 times reduced to petioles. Juice sometimes milky. 



1. ALISMA. Flowers perfect, loosely panicled. Pet.als involute in the hml. Stamens R. 



Ovaries many, in a rin;,', very llat-sided, becoming coriaceous Hat akcnes, 2-3-kt;ele(l 

 on the back. 



2. ECHINODOKITS. Flowers perfect, in proliferous umbels. Totals imbricated in the 



bud. Stamens 9 or more. Ovaries heaped in a head, becoming wingless akenes. 



3. SAGITTAi;i.\. Flowers mon(ccious, rarely diiecious or polygamous, in successive 



whorls, the sterile at the summit of the scape ; the lowest fertile. Stamens usually 

 numerous. Ov.iries very many, heaped on the globular reee])taele, in fruit becom- 

 ing flat and winged akenes. 



1. ALISMA, WATER PLANTAIN. (The old Greek name, of un- 

 certain meaning.) Flowers all late summer. 



A. Plantago, Linn. Shallow water; leaves long-petioled, varying 

 from ovate or oblong-heart-shaped to lanceolate, :j-5-ril)bed ; panicle 1*^-2^ 

 long, of very many and loose, small, while flowers. Variable. % 



2. ECHINODORUS. (From Greek words for prickly flask, the head 

 of fruit being a.s it were prickly-pointed by the styles, but hardly so in 

 our species.) The following occur in muddy or wet places ; fiowers sum- 

 mer ; the flowering shoots or scapes mostly proliferous and creeping. 

 E. pdrvulus, Engelm. A tiny plant, I'-'-V high, with lanceolate or 



spatulat.c leaves, few-flowered umbels, 9 stamens, and almost pointless 

 akenes. Mass., \V. and S. 



