Aroidecc Arum. 463 



these A. Dracunculus, syn. Dracunculus vulgaris, is perhaps 

 the best known. It grows from 2 to 3 feet high, with the 

 petiolate leaves pedately divided into five lanceolate segments. 

 The stem and petioles are covered with dark purplish blotches. 

 Spathe green outside and purplish within. South Europe. 



ORDER III. 

 HYDROCHARIDACE^l. 



A small order of aquatic 

 herbs with erect floating 

 or immersed leaves. Uni- 

 sexual flowers pedunculate, 

 emerging from a small 

 spathe. Perianth of 6 seg- 

 ments, the inner 3 usually 

 larger and coloured. Sta- 

 mens three or more. Fruit 

 inferior, submerged, 1- to 

 6-celled, dry or succulent. 

 There are two native species 

 of some interest, namely, Hy- 

 drocharis Morsus - Ranee, 

 Frog - bit, and Stratiotes 

 aloldesy Water Soldier. 

 The former is a floating 

 herb with orbicular leaves 

 and white flowers, male and 

 female similar, with the in- 

 ner segments of the perianth 

 larger and crumpled. The 

 latter is a submerged 

 stoloniferous plant with 

 radical long narrow 

 toothed leaves, solitary 

 female and clustered male 

 flowers. Confined in 

 Britain to Eastern Eng- 

 land. 



Fig. 224. Typha latifolia. (About ^ nat. size.) 



