HYDROCnARIDACE^. 79 



pure ■white: stamens yellow. Female flowers solitaiy from a sessile 

 axillar}' s])athe, on pedicles 2 to 4 inches long: tube of the perianth 

 wholly adnate to the ovary, about ^ inch long, herbaceous; limb of 

 the pei'ianth similar to that of the male flowers. The fruit is appa- 

 rently rarely perfected, as, though I have frequently looked for it, I 

 have never been able to find it mature : it is described as being 

 ovoid, attenuated at the apex, 6-celled, and with a somewhat fleshy 

 pericarp. 



Frog's-Bit. 



French, Morene aquatique. German, Gemeiner Frosclibiss, 



The popular name of this pretty plant, the Pride of the Water, is well deserved. 

 The pearly white blossoms are very ornamental to our quiet streams and ponds in the 

 summer months, and, though not universally distiibuted, it is very common in some 

 comities. This is one of the most desirable plants for the fresh- water aquarium. 



GENUS IL—S TRATIOTES. Linn. 



Flowers dioecious or polygamous. Male flowers 1 to 3 or more, 

 pedicellate, from a 2-leaved herbaceous spathe supported on a scape : 

 perianth of 6 leaves, the 3 outer oblong, subherbaceous, the 3 inner 

 larger, suborbiculai-, petaloid : stamens indefinite ; filaments free, 

 subulate, 12 only (or 13) of them with anthers. Female or sub- 

 perfect flowers solitary, sessile, from a 2-leaved herbaceous spathe 

 supported on a scape : tube of the perianth herbaceous, adnate to the 

 ovary, and extending above it; limb 6-partite, the 3 outer segments 

 oblong-oblanceolate, subherbaceous, the 3 imier larger, obovoid, 

 petaloid : stamens numerous, usually all abortive, and reduced to 

 subulate filaments, or some of them Avith imperfect or perfect anthers ; 

 ovary adnate to the tube of the perianth, attenuated upwards, 6- 

 celled; each cell with numerous ovules; style short, cylindrical, adnate 

 to the tube of the perianth ; stigmas 6, each of them bifid. Berry 

 hexagonal, ovoid, G-celled. Seeds few, attached to the walls of the 

 cells. 



An aquatic stoloniferous herb, with more or less submerged, linear, 

 tapering, fleshy, brittle leaves, with spinous edges, bearing resemblance 

 to those of an aloe. Flowers at length rising out of the water, with 

 large delicate white inner perianth segments. Fruit submerged. 



The name of tliis genus of plants is said to be derived from the Greek word (rrpariic, 

 an army, because the plant was believed to cure aU wounds made by iron weapons. 

 Other authors say it is derived from arpartwrijc, a soldier, or perhaps arpaToc, in 

 reference to its crowded sword-like leaves. 



