Proserpinaca. HALORAGEJS. 241 



1. Proserpinaca palustris, Linn. Common Mermaid-weed. 



Leaves lanceolate or almost linear, upper (emersed) ones sharply serrate, lowermost (sub- 

 mersed) pectinately incised or pinnatifid ; fruit acutely 3-cornered, the sides broadly cordate 

 and concave.— Linn, act Upsal. 1741, p. 81 ; Michx. fl. 1. p. 76 ; Pur&h, fl. 1. p. 92; 

 Ell. sk. 1. p. 181 ; Tarr.Jl. 1. p. 161 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 48 ; DC. prodr. 3. p. 67; Torr. 

 4- Gr.fl, N. Am. 1. p. 528. 



Stem a foot and a half or more in length, the lower part usually submerged, mostly simple. 

 Leaves 2 inches long ; the upper ones finely serrated ; the lower ones gradually more and 

 more cut, till they are pectinate, with long and very narrow divisions. Flowers mostly solitary, 

 sometimes 2-4 together, scarcely 2 lines long. Calyx-segments broadly lanceolate. Stamens 

 exserted : anthers roundish, large. Stigmas obtuse, purplish. Sides of the fruit broader than 

 long, often a little rugose when mature. 



Shallow ponds, ditches and swamps. June - August. 



2. Proserpinaca pectinacea, Lam. Cut-leaved Mermaid-weed. 



Leaves all pectinately cut into narrow linear segments ; angles of the fruit rather obtuse, 

 the sides ovate and slightly convex. — Lam. ill. t. 50. /. 1 ; Pursh, fl. I. p. 92; Ell. sk. 1. 

 p. 192 ; Torr. fl.l.p.l62; DC. prodr. 3. p. 67 ; Torr.^- Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 528, P. 

 palustris, /3., Miclix. fl. 1. p. 76. 



Stem seldom more than a foot long, slender. Leaves scarcely an inch long ; the segments 

 rather distant. Flowers resembling those of the preceding species, but the ovary longer in 

 proportion to the breadth. Stigmas attenuate upward. Capsule a little rugous on the sides 

 when mature. 



Beaver meadow near Vernon {Dr. Douglas). I have not seen the specimens collected by 

 Dr. Douglas ; and were he not so good a botanist, I should doubt whether this species grew 

 in the western part of the State. It will very probably yet be found on Long Island. 



7. MYRIOPHYLLUM. VaUl. ; Linn.; Endl. gen. 6135. water MILFOIL. 



[ From the Greek, myrios, a myriad, and pkyllon, a leaf; the leaves being cut into innumerable fine segments.] 



Flowers either monoecious or perfect. Calyx 4-parted in the staminate, 4-loothed in the 

 pistillate and perfect flowers. Petals 4, often rudimentary or wanting. Stamens 4 or 8. 

 Ovary 4-celIcd : stigmas oblong or linear, pencil-form or papillose along the inner surface. 

 Fruit of 4 nut-like carpels cohering by their inner angles, and enclosed in the adherent tube 

 of the calyx. — Aquatic and usually submersed perennial plants, the upper part emersed 

 while flowering. Leaves vcrticillate, sometimes opposite or alternate ; those under water 

 [Flora.] 31 



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