86 ELATINACE.E. ( WATER- WORT FAMILY.) 



Var. gymnanthum (H. gymnanthum, Engelm. §• Gray), is a form, or per- 

 haps species, with strict stem and branches, or often unbranched, more clasping 

 heart-shaped stem-leaves, and a naked cyme, the floral leaves being reduced to 

 small awl-shaped bracts ; so that in aspect it approaches the next. — Newcastle 

 Co., Delaware, Canby, and Illinois, E. Hall, thence southward. 



14. H. Canadense, L. Stem strict (6'- 15' high), with the branches 

 erect ; leaves linear, 3-?ierved at the base, obtuse ; cymes naked ; pods conical-oblong, 

 usually much longer than the calyx. — Wet, sandy soil : common. June - Oct. — 

 Flowers deep yellow, 2" - 3" broad when expanded. 



Var. major is a large form, l°-2° high, with lanceolate leaves 1^' long, 

 3" wide, the upper acute. — L. Superior, Robbins ; S. New York and southward. 



15. H. Drummondii, Torr. & Gray. Stem and the mostly alternate 

 bushy branches rigid, erect (10'- 18' high) ; leaves linear-subulate, nearly erect, 

 l-nerved (3" -9" long); flowers scattered along the upper part of the leafy 

 branches, short-pedicelled ; pods ovoid, not longer than the calyx. ( Sarothra Drum- 

 mondii, Grev. §- Hook.) — W. Illinois and southward, in dry soil. 



16. H. Sardthra, Michx. (Orange-grass. Pine-weed.) Stem and 

 bushy branches thread-like, wiry (4' - 9' high) ; leaves minute awl-shaped scales, 

 oppressed ; flowers minute, mostly sessile and scattered along the erect branches ; 

 pods ovate-lanceolate, acute, much longer than the calyx. (Sarothra gentianoides, 

 L. ) — Sandy fields : common. June - Oct. 



3 . ELODES, Adans. Marsh St. John's-wort. 



Sepals 5, equal, erect. Petals 5, equal-sided, oblong, naked, imbricated in 

 the bud. Stamens 9 (rarely more), united in 3 sets ; the sets separated by as 

 many large orange-colored glands. Pod 3-celled, oblong : styles distinct. — 

 Perennial herbs, in marshes or shallow water, with small close clusters of flesh- 

 colored flowers in the axils of the leaves and at the summit of the stem. (Name 

 eXwS^y, growing in marshes, accidentally changed to Elodea by Jussieu, who 

 was followed by Pursh, &c.) 



1. E. Virginiea, Nutt. Leaves closely sessile or clasping by a broad base, 

 oblong or ovate, very obtuse; filaments united below the middle. (Hypericum 

 Virginicum, L.) — Common in swamps. July, Aug. 



2. E. petiolata, Pursh. Leaves tapering into a short petiole, oblong: fila- 

 ments united beyond the middle. — From New Jersey south and westward. 



Order 17. EL.ATINACE.E. (Water-wort Family.) 



Little marsh annuals, with membranaceous stipules between the opposite 

 dotless leaves, minute axillary flovjers like Chickweeds, but the pod 2-5- 

 celled, and the seeds as in St. John's-wort. The principal genus is 



1. ELATINE, L. Water-wort. 



Sepals 2-4, persistent. Petals 2-4, hypogynous. Stamens as many, rarely 

 twice as many, as the petals. Styles, or sessile capitate stigmas, 2-4. Pod 2 - 

 4-cellcd, several - many-seeded, 2 - 4-valved ; the partitions left attached to the 



