352 CLASS xxr. order i. 



The root is extremely fibrous, and sends up a number of stems, 

 simple or slightly branched, less than a foot in height, jointed, 

 fiexuGus, and often of a reddish tinge. Leaves alternate, on 

 short petioles, oblong, entire, acuminate, heart shaped at base 

 and three nerved. The flowers grow close to the ground ; they 

 have a stiff, leathery texture, and a dull brownish purple color. 

 The peduncle has one or more leafets, and gradually enlarges 

 into a furrowed, obovate germ. The corolla consists of a long, 

 contorted tube, bent in the form of the letter S. swelling at its 

 two extremities, having its throat surrounded by an elevated 

 edge or brim, and its border expanded into a broad, irregular 

 margin, forming an upper and under lip, which are closed in a 

 triangular manner in the bud. Anthers, twelve, growing in 

 pairs to the sides of the fleshy style, which is situated at the 

 bottom of the corolla, and covered by a firm, spreading, convo- 

 luted stigma, which extends over the anthers. Capsule obovate, 

 six angled, six celled, with numerous, flat, small seeds. — Woods 

 near New Haven. — June. — Perennial. 



Class XXI. MONCECIA. Stamhriferons and pis- 

 iillferoiis, or barren and fertile Jioioers o?i the same 

 plant. 



Order I. MONANDRIA. One Stamen. 



366. Najas. Barren flowers; calyx cylindrical, 

 two cleft, stamen long, anther with four spreading 

 valves. Fertile flowers, calyx none: style one, stig- 

 mas two, nut four seeded. 



367. Chara. Barren flowers, calyx none, corolla 

 none; fertile flowers, calyx four leaved, corolla none; 

 stigma three cleft; berry many seeded. 



368. ZosTERA. Spadix linear, bearing the fructifi- 

 cation on one side ; calyx none; corolla none ; anther 

 sessile, parallel to the germ ; stigmas two ; capsules 

 one seeded. 



