XLVII. PHILYDRE^E. 867 



introrse, basi-dorsi-fixed ; cells 2, parellel, opening longitudinally. OVAET free, of 

 3 several-ovuled cells, sometimes sub-1-celled with 3 incomplete cells, of which 

 2 are smallest and empty, and one fertile 1-ovuled ; style terminal, simple ; stigma 

 thick, unilateral, or obscurely 3-lobed ; ovules anatropous, sometimes several hori- 

 zontal or erect, sometimes one pendulous. CAPSULE enveloped by the persistent 

 base of the perianth, with 3 many-seeded cells, and 3 loculicidal semi-septiferous 

 valves, or indehiscent, 1-celled, 1-seeded. SEEDS numerous, inserted at the inner 

 angle of the cells, or solitary, pendulous from the top of the fertile cell, oblong- 

 cylindric ; testa parchment-like, striate or tessellated ; raphe filiform, inconspicuous ; 

 chalaza apical, thickened ; albumen farinaceous. EMBRYO straight, axile, clavate or 

 cylindric ; radicle near the hilum. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Heteranthera. * Pontederia. Reussia. 



Pontederiacece have been placed by Brongniart in the same class with Bromeliacece, Vellusieee and 

 Hcemodoracece ; they differ from the two latter in their free ovary and farinaceous albumen, and from 

 Bromeliacece in their completely petaloid perianth, often triandrous andrcecium, ovary with unequal cells, 

 and axile embryo as long as the albumen. They approach Asphodelece in their perianth and androecium ; 

 but are separated by habit, aestivation and the nature of the albumen. Pontederiacece especially inhabit 

 America between 40 north latitude, and 30 south latitude ; they are rare in tropical Africa and Asia. 



Pontederia vuginalis is esteemed as a medicinal plant in Japan, Java, and on the Coromandel coast, 

 where a decoction of its root is used in diseases of the liver and stomach ; pulverized and mixed with 

 sugar, it is administered for asthma ; it is chewed for toothache ; its leaves, bruised and mixed with 

 milk, are administered in cholera ; and its young shoots are edible. 



XLVII. PHILYDRE^E> 



, Brown. PHILYDRACE^E, Lindl.) 



[HERBS with fibrous roots. STEMS erect, simple, often woolly. LEAVES ensi- 

 form ; bases sheathing, equitant, narrow. FLOWERS spiked or racemose, enclosed in 

 spathaceous persistent bracts, inodorous. PERIANTH of 2 (antero-posterior) mem- 

 branous marcescent segments, yellow. STAMEN opposite the posticous perianth- 

 segment ; filament dilated, with broad lateral wings and petaloid staminodes ; anther 

 2-celled. OVARY superior, 3- celled; style excentric ; stigma cupulate; ovules 

 numerous, on the inner angles of the cells. CAPSULE 3-celled, loculicidally 3-valved, 

 many-seeded. SEEDS minute, horizontal ; testa thick ; albumen fleshy. EMBRYO 



axile, large. 



GENERA. 



Philydrum. Heteria. 



A small order of two genera, each monotypic, usually associated with Xyridea, but from which they 

 differ in their three-celled ovary, and embryo included in the albumen. To me they appear more closely 

 allied to Commelynea, from which they differ chiefly in the reduced perianth, stamens and large embryo. 

 They are natives of eastern tropical Asia and Australia. ED.] 



1 This Order is omitted in the original. ED. 

 3 K 2 



