470 



,XCIX. ALISMACE^. 



^imhel, generally proliferous. Petals white, very delicate, obcordat 

 each having a yellow spot at the base. Capsules with two seeds u *^' 

 evident stalks, one from the upper angle, horizontal, the other f^^^ 

 the lower angle of the axis, erect, oblong, tubercled, and transverser 

 striated, compressed, with a deep furrow on each side, occasioned I 

 the form of the ewhryo within, vi^hich is cylindrical, and bent doubl ^ 

 somewhat like a horse-shoe, ' 



fill 



Ic 



,r 



(liC« 



I 



V 



ing' 



^ 



2. A1.1SMA Linn. Water-Plantain. 



Flowers perfect. Stamens 6. Styles numerous. AcJicnes 

 many in a head^ distinct, one-seeded. — Named from alts ivaier 

 in Celtic. The genus is altogether aquatic. ' 



1. A. Plantdgo L. {greater Water- Plantain) ; leaves all ra- 

 dical cordate-ovate or lanceolate, scape panicled with wliorled 

 compound branches, fruit depressed, achenes obtuse with a 

 small rib on the back. — a, leaves broader more or less ovate, 



/3. leaves lanceolate tapering below. A, lan- 



F 



With 



Near the margins of lakes, rivers, and ditches, frequent, Ij., 6 8. 



Plant 2 — 3 feet high. Leaves on long stalks. Scape branched upwards • 

 branches bracteate; fiowers of a pale rose-colour. 



2. A, nutans L. {floating Water- Plantain) ; radical leaves 

 linear acuminate sessile, floating ones elliptical obtuse, stem 

 floating and rooting leafj, peduncles simple from the joints of 

 the stem. E. B. t. 775. 



Lakes in North Wales and Cumberland. Very rare in Scotland : 



Black Loch, 6 miles from IStranraer. 

 Ireland. 



On Howth and in Cunnamara, 



11. 7,8. 



At the base of the plant are long, linear- 



lanceolate, membranous scales, or root-leaves reduced to mere petioles. 

 Stem-leaves floating, on long stalks, scarcely nerved. Achenes obliquely 

 oblong, compressed at the side, with many strias, slightly spreading, 

 pointed with the short persistent style. 



3. A. ranunculoides L. (lesser W.) ; leaves all radical linear- 

 lanceolate, scape with simple branches in 1 or 2 whorls, fruit 

 globose squarrose, achenes obliquely ovate acute 5 -angled. 

 a. erect. E. B. t. 326. — /3. plant procumbent, umbels rooting 

 and leafy. 

 t. 2722. 



A. repens " Davies Welsh Bot 36 ;" E. B. S. 



Ditches and turfy bogs, not unfrequent in England, Scotland, and 



Ireland. — ^. In lakes, North Wales. %. 5 9. — '* Entire plant 



diffusing when bruised the odour of Eryiigium fcetidum^ but weaker.*' 

 Bromf. In general appearance most allied to A. plantago, espe- 

 cially the narrow-leaved variety of that plant, but much smaller, 

 ■with larger flowers^ which are pale-coloured, and arranged in often 

 proliferous umbels. The most essential character is to be found in 

 the yermen and fruit. The var. fi. at first appears to be very dif- 

 ferent, having runners, and the flowers are solitary on long simple 



*** pm 



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plants 

 c-anlui 



s 



fmnth 

 petaloid. 

 Gmrks 

 approxiu 



rarely in 

 as tlie set 

 -Marsh 



( 



1- Irigl 

 in; 



^ inner 



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