I ENGLISH BOTANY. 



The name of the typical genns of the natural order Eriocaulonacccp. is derived from 

 two Greek words, meaning " wool " and " stem," on account of the woolly chai-acter 

 of tlic stalks of some of the species. 



SPECIES I.-ERIOCAULON SE PT AN GU L ARE. With. 



Plate ilDXLVI. 



E. decangularc, With. Lir/Jit. Fl. Scot. Vol. II. p. 569. (Non L!nn.) 

 E. pellucidum, Mich. Test. Asa Orai/. 



Leaves short, pellucid, very cellular, subulate, glabrous. Scapes 

 slender, witli 6 to 8 striaj. Sepals 2. Petals or segments of the 

 corolla 2. Stamens 4. 



In lakes, very local. " In the Isle of Skj'e, in two or three small 

 fresh-water lochs about a mile west of Loch Sligachan, particularly 

 in a small lake called Loch-na-Oaiplich, close to the roadside, between 

 Sligachan and Drynoch " (Light.); also in Col and a few of the 

 neighbouring islands of the Hebrides (Brit. Fl.). Along the west 

 coast of Ireland near the sea, fi'om Cromeen Lakes, eight miles below 

 Kenmarc, co. Keny, north to Rathlin Island, co. Antrim : abundant 

 in Connemai'a. 



Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Autumn. 



Rootstock shortly creeping, thick, slightly branched, emitting numer- 

 ous thick white fibres resembling those of Lobelia Dortmanna, to which 

 the leaves also bear a slight resemblance. Leaves numerous, distri- 

 buted over the very short stem, 1 to 4 inches long, dilated at the 

 base, laterally compressed, green, divided by longitudinal and trans- 

 verse septa. Scape varying from a few inches to 2 to 3 feet in height, 

 according to the depth of the water, slightly twisted, with 6 to 8 

 (rarely more) raised lines. Head solitary, terminal, -{- to i inch across, 

 surrounded by an involucre of scarious lead-coloured bracts. Male 

 flowers in the centre, surrounded by the female ones. Sepals dark 

 lead-coloured with a thick white beard. Petals wliite, fringed, with a 

 dark spot at the apex. Anthers lead-colour. Ovary shortly sti2)itate, 

 2-lobed. 



I am indebted to Mr. Charles Bailey of Manchester for fresh speci- 

 mens of this plant from Connemara. 



Pipeicort. 



Thi.s is the only British species of the genus, although a hundred have been de 

 scribed found growing in the principal parts of Asia, America, and New Holland. 

 Some of those found in Brazil attain a height of six feet. 



