XXIX. ELATIKELE. 



265 



Elating Hydropiper. 

 Flower out vertically (mag.). 



Elatine. 

 Ovule (mag.). 



Menmea. 

 Flowers, leaves, and stipules (mag.). 



Dwarf HERBS, or marsh UNDERSHRUBS ; stems creeping or spreading. LEAVES 

 opposite, rarely whorled, sessile or sub-sessile, entire or toothed, stipulate. FLOWERS 

 , small, regular, axillary, solitary or cymose. SEPALS 2-5, distinct, aestivation 

 imbricate. PETALS 25, hypogynous, aestivation imbricate. STAMENS equal or 

 double the number of the petals, hypogynous ; filaments filiform-subulate, free ; 

 anthers introrse, dorsifixed, versatile, dehiscence longitudinal. OVARY free, cells as 

 many as sepals ; styles as many as cells, distinct ; stigmas capitate ; ovules oo, fixed to 

 the central angle of the cells, horizontal or sub-ascending, anatropous, raphe lateral 

 or superior. CAPSULE septicidal, valves flat or inflexed, leaving the placentiferous 

 central column free. SEEDS numerous, cylindric, straight or curved, strongly striate 

 transversely, rarely smooth (M&rimea), hiluin basilar, exalbuminous. EMBRYO 

 straight or curved ; cotyledons short, obtuse ; radicle cylindric, long, near the 

 hilum, 



Elatine. 



GENERA. 

 Berjria. 



Merimea, 



Elattnca, formerly placed in Caryophyllccc, tribe Alsinece, are distinguished by the capitate stigmas, 

 dehiscent capsule, exalbuminous seed, and straighter embryo. They approach Hypericinea in hypopetal- 

 ism, the 3-6-celled ovary with many ovules in each cell, the free styles, terminal stigmas, capsular fruit, 

 straight or curved exalbuminous seeds, and opposite or whorled leaves ; but in Hypericinece the petals are 

 twisted, the stamens usually numerous and polyadelphous, and the leaves exstipulate. Elatinece approach 

 some LythrariecK, which have also isostemonous or diplostemonous flowers, an ovary with two or several 

 many-ovuled cells, anatropous ovules, a septicidal capsule, exalbuminous seeds, and opposite leaves ; but 

 they differ in the tubular calyx, perigynism, simple style and exstipulate leaves. 



The genus Tetradiclis (or Anatropa) appears much nearer Elatinecs than Zygophyllece, in which 

 Bentham and Hooker fil. 1 place it; it differs from Zyyophyllece in the number of the parts of the 

 flower, the dehiscence of the capsule, the nature of the seeds, &c., and is only separated from Elatinea by 

 its exstipulate and laciniate leaves. 



Elatinece are widely dispersed, especially in the Old World, inhabiting ditches and the submerged 

 shores of ponds and rivers. They are of no use to man. 



1 Bentham and Hooker place it in Rutacea, tribe Rutea, and not in Zygophyllea. ED. 



