A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 309 



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smooth aquatic, the stem spongy, subrnerged and about 13^ 

 ft. long. Leaves all submerged, divided nearly to the middle 

 into narrow linear segments 3^-2 in. long. Flowers white, 

 about 34 iri- loJ^g. arranged in small interrupted clusters of 

 2-8 flowers on stalks that are jointed and slightly constricted 

 at the joints. In still, shallow water. New Hampshire and 

 Mass. to central New York, south to Florida. July. Fig. 



947. See No. 466. 



948. Water-cress. Sisymbrium Nastiirtium-aquaticum. 

 {Radiciila Nasturtiiun-aquaticum.) (^Cnicifcrac.) A rampant 

 aquatic producing a tangled mass of foliage at or just 

 beneath the surface. Leaves of 3-9 segments, the terminal 

 one larger than those at the side, all more or less oval, or the 

 end one nearly round. Flowers above the surface, white, 

 about 34 iri. wide, in a small cluster. Petals 4. Pod slender, 

 3^-13^ in. long. In brooks or stj-eams. Nova Scotia to Vir- 

 ginia and westward. Native of Europe. May-October. Fig. 



948. See also Nos. 383 and 397. 



949. Water Lily. Castalia odorata. (Nymphacaceae.) The 

 most fragrant of all our aquatic plants. Leaves floating, very 

 long stalked, the blades more or less oval or roundish, deeply 

 cleft at the base, smooth above, more or less hairy and veiny 

 beneath. Flowers white, rarely pinkish, solitary and floating at 

 the end of long stalks. Petals numerous, merging insensibly 

 towards the central organs of the flower, which may be 2 

 in. or even more across. Fruit ripening under water. In still 

 water, Newfoundland to Florida, and westward. July. Fig. 

 949. 



