344 1. HIPPUIUS VULGARIS. [CL. I. 



tuse {55.), quite entire, without nerves, opakc, of the length 

 of a finger-nail, or of the thumb, (16.) These leaves, espe- 

 cially on their lower surface, have pretty large slits, (309.) 



At the base of the leaves, or in the axis of the leaves, there 

 appear in spring, in the first place, some larger bodies, which 

 we may consider with Haller (Hist. Stirp. Helv. 1752), as 

 buds ; and, secondly, small ovaria, surmounted by a simple 

 pistil, on both sides of which, the rudiments of llie two-lobed 

 anthers stand directly over the germen. The anther after- 

 wards is elevated upon a simple filament, about the length of 

 the pistil, by the side of which it stands, and continues till the 

 seed is almost fully ripe. The external cover of the germen 

 maylx? considered as the calyx, which in ihat case will be a su- 

 perior one, (34.) Tlie germen shews as its fruit, whilst the ex- 

 ternal cover swells, a smooth, oval nut, with a similar shaped 

 cavity, in which the seed lies. This contains, amidst the near- 

 ly consumed albumen, a filamentous embryo in the centre, 

 ha\nng its radicle directed upwards. 



Geographical Distribution. 



With res].iect to the geographical distribution of the plant, 

 it seems to thrive only in the waters of the Northern Hemi- 

 .sphere. It grows as far as the Polar circle, (Wahlenb. Flor. 

 Lapp. p. 1.), in Europe, Asia, and America, (Pursh, Amer. 

 Sept. p. 3. ; Nuttal, p. 3.) But the American form is con- 

 sidered as a distinct variety, since it has almost always only 

 six leaves in the circle. But it does not grow farther south 

 than the north of Italy, the south of France, and the north 

 of Spain. Hence its southern limit in Europe seems to be the 

 44° N. Lat. In Asia, it scarcely passes beyond the 5^. But 

 in Nortli America it is found even under the 35°. 



Syn&ivijmes and Figures. 



Polygonum femina, Label, ic. 792. — Matth. Valgri.% 485. — 



Dodcn. U^.-^Dahch. 1072.— J. Bauh. Hht. 3. 732. 

 Cauda equina femina, Gerard. Evinc. 1114. 



