6 A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 



with 3-5 veins. August. Newfoundland to Florida, and west- 

 ward. Young growth often purplish. Fig. 8. 



9. Bur head. Echinodorus cordifolius. An erect swamp of 

 ditch plant. Leaves variable, but always stalked, mostly heart- 

 shaped at the base. In some forms the leaf is acute at both 

 ends. Flower clusters several, arising from the same point, the 

 3 petals white and about ^4 in. long. Fruits in a bur-like head. 

 June. Illinois to Florida, west to Texas and Missouri. A 

 related species, with almost creeping habit, Echinodorus 

 radicans, differs in having a rough stem, and is often found 

 with the former. 



10. Water-plantain. Alisina subcordatum. (A. Plantago- 

 aquatica.) Swamp or marsh plant of very variable habit. In 

 youth, all the leaves may be floating and acute at both ends, 

 in age, they are erect, stalked, usually oval, and with 5-7 

 veins. Flowers numerous in scattered clusters, the white 

 petals not over Y^ in. long or wide. The flower cluster in 

 mature specimens usually much over-topping the leaves. 

 Summer. New England to Florida and westward. Fig. 10. 



11. Arrow-head. Sagittaria latifolia. The commonest of a 

 group of many species, distinguished by technical characters. 

 Leaves stalked, very variable, nearly always arrowhead- 

 shaped, but the basal lobes sometimes broad as in the 

 Elephant-ears, or narrow or slender. Flowers i-iYi in. wide, 

 with 3 showy white petals. Fruits in globe-like clusters. Sum- 

 mer. Throughout North America. Fig. 11. A related species, 

 Sagittaria pubescens, has hairy leaves and stems and is found 

 from Nova Scotia to Penn., and westward. 



12. PIPEWORTS. ERIOCAULON. 



Swamp or bog plants with slender, grass-like leaves and 

 compact button-like woolly heads of tiny white flowers on 

 long basal stalks. The stalk is enclosed by a tight sheath 

 which surrounds its lower part. (Eriocaidaccae.) 

 Leaves as long as the sheaths of the flower stalk. 

 13. PiPEWORT. Eriocaidon septangidarc. Leaves all basal, not 

 over 4 in. long, with 3-8 veins. Flower stalks, 1-8 in, high, 



