CLASS VI. ORDER V.] ALISMA. 537 



Hoot of numerous long 1)ranchcd fibres, from a tuberous base. 

 Leaves all radical, ovate, acute, entire, or beart-sLapcil at the base, 

 with a stout mid-rib, and three lateral ones on each side, and numerous 

 transverse ones, erect, elevated above the water on stout footstalks 

 channeled and dilated at the base, with a pale thin membranous 

 margin ; in the varieties the leaf is lengthened out into a lanceolate 

 shape in ^.. and perfectly linear in y., long and floating on the surface 

 of the water ; sometimes there are one or two amongst them somewhat 

 lanceolate and erect. Scape erect, from one to three feet high, round, 

 smooth, terminating in a compound panicle of whorled flowers, one 

 whorl being elevated above the other, and having at its base several 

 membranous brown dry ovate-lanceolate bractea, each of the flowers 

 elevated on a peduncle, the calyx of three roundish concave striated 

 pieces. Corolla of three roundish petals, with a short claw, a pale 

 pink, sometimes white, yellow at the base, delicately veined, as large 

 again as the calyx, the margins irregular. Fruit roundish, flat, of 

 numerous obtusely triangular capsules, arranged in a circle round the 

 receptacle, each having on the back one or two furrows. 



Habitat. — The margins of lakes, rivers, and ditches ; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in June and July. 



The varieties of this species are very remarkable, and show the 

 curious adaptation of the leaves to the various situations in which they 

 may be accidentally grown. The variety ^. lanceolatum grows in 

 situations where the water has risen, and in consequence of this the 

 leaf becomes elongated, that it may elevate itself above the surface of 

 the water to perform its appointed functions; and the variety y. 

 graminifolium has its leaves elongated by growing in rapid streams. 



The Water Plantain has had the reputation of being a specific for 

 the cure of canine madness. The powder of the dried tuberous base 

 of the stem was administered in doses of from one to three drachms 

 daily, and the leaves made into a poultice and applied to the wound. 

 Cases of cures by this means have been reported ; but from the know- 

 ledge of the influence of the hydrophobic poison upon the system which 

 we possess, we are much disposed to the belief that some error must 

 have been committed, in supposing that the individuals ever had the 

 virus introduced into the system. The tubers abound in starchy 

 matter, which is perfectly harmless when dried and powdered, and 

 aff'ords a nutritious article, which the Kalmuc Tartars are said to use 

 as food. 



2. A, ranunculoi'des, Linn. (Fig. 613.) Lesser Water Plantain, 

 Scape terminating in a simple umbel, or one whorl above the other; 

 leaves all radical, linear, lanceolate; carpels five angled, acute, nume- 

 rous, in a globose head. 



English Botany, t. 326.— English Flora, vol. ii. p. 205.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 176.— Lindley, Synopsis, p. 253. 



