180 HEPTANDRIA. [CL. VII. 



grows in moist meadows in many parts of England : rare. The 

 roots have a good deal of acrimony. An infusion of them in vine- 

 gar, formed into a syrup by the addition of sugar or honey, is said 

 to be a good expectorant and diuretic. Eng. Bot. vol. ii. pi. 133. 

 Eng. Fl. vol. ii. p. 202. 573. 



POLYGYNIA. 



26. ALIS'MA. WATER PLANTAIN. 



Calyx inferior, of three egg-shaped, permanent leaves. Petals 

 three, roundish, much larger than the calyx, deciduous. Fila- 

 ments awl-shaped, short ; anthers roundish. Germen superior, 

 more than five. Styles simple j stigmas blunt. Capsules more 

 than five, compressed. Seeds small, solitary. Named from 

 alis, the Celtic for water. 205. 



1. A. Plantdgo. Great Water Plantain. Leaves egg-shaped, 



acute ; capsules obtusely triangular. Root fibrous : leaves all 



radical, on long stalks, erect : flower-stalk several feet high, pani- 

 cled : flowers terminal, solitary, pale-purplish. Perennial : flowers 

 in July : grows hi ditches, pools, lakes and rivers : common. Eng. 

 Bot. vol. xii. pi. 837. Eng. Fl. vol. ii. p. 203. 574. 



2. A. Damasonium. Star-headed Water Plantain. Leaves ob- 

 long, heart-shaped at the base; capsules awl-shaped; styles six. 



Root fibrous : leaves all radical, floating : flower-stalks about 



six inches high, bearing one or two whorls of white flowers. Pe- 

 rennial : flowers in June and July : grows in ditches and pools in 

 England: not common. Eng. Bot. vol. xxiii. pi. 1615. Eng. Fl. 

 vol. ii. p. 204. 575. 



3. A. ndtans. Floating Water Plantain. Leaves elliptical, ob- 

 tuse ; capsules striated ; flower-stalks simple. Stems floating, 



, thread-shaped, from three to ten feet long. Flower-stalks from 

 the joints of the stem, erect, single-flowered. Petals large, white, 

 with a yellow spot near the claw. Perennial : flowers in July and 

 August : grows in lakes : rare. North Wales and Cumberland. 

 Near Stranaer, Scotland. Howth Hill and Cunnemara, Ireland. 

 Eng. Bot. vol. xi. pi. 775. Eng. Fl. vol. ii. p. 204. 576. 



4. A. ranunculoidea. Lesser Water Plantain. Leaves between 

 linear and lance-shaped ; capsules angular, acute, numerous, in a 



globular head ; stem none Root fibrous : leaves all radical, 



erect, on long stalks : flower-stalks radical, erect, from three to ten 

 inches high, with one or two whorls of pale-purplish flowers. Pe- 

 rennial : flowers in August : grows in ditches and bogs : not com- 

 mon. Eng. Bot. vol. v. pi. 326. Eng. FL vol. ii. p. 205. 577. 



CLASS VII. HEPTANDRIA. 



Plants bearing Flowers with Seven Stamens. 



Order I. MONOGYNIA. One Pistil. 



1. TRIENTA'LIS. Calyx of seven leaves. Corolla deeply divided 

 into seven segments. Capsule seven-valved. 



