130 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



SPECIES 1— MONTI A FONT AN A. Linn. 



I'LATU CCLIX. 



stamens generally 3. Seeds sliagrcencd, slightly sliining. 



Var. a., minor. 



Tsl. minor, Gmel. Gr. & Godr. Fl. de Fr. Vol. I. p. G06. Boreau, Fl. du Centre de la 

 Fr. ed. iii. Vol. II. p. 250. 



Stems short, not flaccid. Cymes (or pseudo-racemes) terminal 

 and axillary. Seeds with concentric rows of conical tubercles. 



Var. 0, rimdaris. 



M. rivulai-is, Gmel. Gr. & Godr. Fl. de Fr. Vol. I. p. COG. Boreau, Fl. du Centre 

 de la Fr. ed. iii. Vol. II. p. 250. 



Stems elongated, flaccid. Cymes all axillary. Seeds closely 

 covered with flattened tubercles. 



In moist places. Var. a, in places overflowed in winter, etc. ; 

 but not in deep water. Var. |3, in ditches and brooks. Common 

 throughout the country. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Annual or Biennial (var. 3, Perennial). 

 Spring to Autumn. 



Var. a with the stems densely tufted, 1 to 4 inches high, ascend- 

 ing, dichotomous. Leaves about \ inch long, elliptical, attenuated 

 at the base into a sub-parallel portion, which is dilated at the very 

 bottom, where it is united with the opposite leaf; apex rather acute, 

 riowers in axillary or terminal 2- to 5-floAvered cymes, the terminal 

 ones with a scarious ovate apiculate bract at the base. Pedicels at 

 first curved, at length erect. Sepals roundish-rhomboid. Petals a 

 little longer than the sepals, but the whole flower not more than 

 •j^ inch across. Capsule a little broader upwards, reduced at the 

 apex, with 3 brownish-black seeds studded with concentric rows of 

 conical tubercles. Plant rather pale green, quite glabrous and 

 slightly succulent. 



Var. /3 (which perhaps ought rather to be considered as a sub- 

 species) is generally perennial, and floats in water, from which the 

 tips of the stems emerge, and are so closely packed together that 

 they give a deceitful appearance of solidity which is apt to mislead 

 the unwary into the belief that there is firm ground below. The 

 length cf the stems varies according to the depth of water, but 

 they are sometimes as much as 18 inches long. The leaves are 

 "I to f inch long, of a much deeper green, and generally more obtuse 

 at the apex than in var. a. The cymes are all axillary, and have 

 sometimes as many as C or 7 flowers ; but the only dillercnce which 



