90 HYPERICACE^. Elodea. 



3. ELODEA. Adans. ; Spach in ann. sci. nat. (ser. 2.) 5. p. 165, not of Michc. ; Endl. 



gen. 5465. ELODEA, 



[ From the Greek, ehdes, growing in marshy places.] 



Calyx of 5 equal sepals somewhat united at the base. Petals 5, deciduous, equilateral. 

 Stamens 9 (rarely 12 - 15), united in three parcels which alternate with 3 hypogynous 

 glands. Styles 3, distinct. Capsule oblong, membranaceous, 3-celled ; the placentas 

 somewhat cohering in the axis, at length separating from the valves. — Perennial, smooth, 

 and slightly glaucous herbs. Leaves membranaceous, pellucid-punctate, and often with a 

 few black dots (the axils never leafy). Cymules few-flowered, terminal and in the axils of 

 the upper leaves, pedunculate or nearly sessile : flowers dull orange-purple. 



1. Elodea Virginica, Nutt. Virs:i7iian Elodea. 



&' 



Leaves sessile, clasping ; stamens united below the middle. — Nutt. gen. 2. p. 17 ; Ell. sk. 

 2. p. 33 ; Spach, I. c. ; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 167. E. campanulata, PursJi, fl. 2. 

 p. 379. E. Drummondii and Fraseri, Spach, I. c. Hypericum Virginicum, Linn.; Michx. 

 fl. 2. p. 81 ; Andr. bat. rep. t. 552 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 281 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 1. p. 109 ; 

 Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 322. H. campanulatum, Walt. fl. Car. p. 191. 



Plant a foot or eighteen inches high ; the stem and branches, and sometimes even the leaves 

 tinged with purple. Leaves oblong, 1-2 inches long, obtuse or slightly emarginate, paler 

 and somewhat glaucous underneath. Axillary cymes about 3-flowered ; the terminal one 

 often compound. Flowers about half an inch in diameter. Sepals lanceolate. Petals oblong, 

 marked with purple veins, pellucid-punctate, nearly twice as long as the calyx. Stamens very 

 generally 9 ; the filaments united about one-third of their length ; with a prominent orange- 

 colored gland between each parcel. Capsule ovoid, acute, much longer than the calyx. Seeds 

 oblong, pitted : testa very thick and crustaceous. Endopleura thin. Embryo oblong, straight. 



Open swamps ; rather common. July - August. 



