MELANTHACE^E 163 



5. TOFIELDIA, Huds. 



Flowers small, in spikes or racemes at the end of a 

 slender leafless scape ; leaves linear ; seed-vessel com- 

 posed of 3 follicles. 



T. calyculata, Whlb. ; flowers yellow or reddish, sub- 

 tended by a calyx-like involucre ; damp pastures, fre- 

 quent. T.palustris, Huds. ; involucral scales at the base 

 of the flower-stalk, but not beneath the flower, spike 

 shorter ; damp pastures, not so common. 



Order XCL ALISMACE^. 



Flowers usually bisexual, in panicles or umbels ; sepals 

 and petals 3 each, the former green or coloured ; stamens 

 6 or more ; ovary of many carpels ; leaves chiefly radical. 

 Aquatic or marsh plants ; not alpine. 



i. ALISMA, L. 



Flowers bisexual ; sepals green ; petals white or light 

 pink ; carpels very numerous, free ; leaves erect. 



A . Plantago, L., Water- Plantain ; flowers in a branched 

 panicle, carpels arranged in a whorl, stem 1-3 ft., leaves 

 ovate-lanceolate ; ditches, common. A . ranunculoides, L. ; 

 flowers in an umbel, carpels arranged in a globular 

 head, stem 6-1 8 in., leaves linear-lanceolate; ditches; 

 Switzerland, rare. A. parnassifolimn, L.; flowers in a 

 panicle, leaves obtuse, cordate; Tirol, Carinthia, Styria, 

 Dauphiny. 



