ELATINACEjE. 219 



Plate 95, 96. 

 ELATINE, L. 



Capsula septifraga ; dissepimentis columnac adnatis persis- 

 tentibus, aut raro evanidis. 



Elatine, Linn. Gen. 502. GEertn. Fr. t. 102. Juss. Gen. p. 300. 



Schkuhr, H:in4b. 1. 100. Camb. in Mem. Mus. 1. c. Fenzl, 1. c. 



Seubert, in Nov. Act. Acad. Nat. Cur. 21. p. 38. t. 2-5. 

 Alsinastrum, Vaill. Bot. Par. p. 5. t. 1. f. 6. 



Subgen. Crypta. — Flores dimeri, rarius trimeri. Dis- 

 sepimentum evanescens. Placentae basilares, oligospermae. 

 — Folia opposita, integerrima. 



Crvpta, Nutt. in Jour. Acad. Pnilad. 1. p. 117. t. 6. 



Subgen. Bergella. — Flores pentameri (5 - 10-andri). 

 Dissepimenta persistentia. Placentas centrales. — Folia op- 

 posita, serrulata. 



Water-wort. 



Calyx herbaceous, of 2 to 5 sepals, which are distinct or 

 united barely at the base, imbricated in aestivation, persist- 

 ent. Petals as many as the sepals and alternate with 

 them, hypogynous, imbricated in aestivation, persistent or 

 marcescent. Stamens hypogynous, as many as the petals 

 and alternate with them, or more commonly of twice their 

 number and both alternate with and opposite them : fila- 

 ments subulate, persistent : anthers globular or cordate, 

 introrse ; the cells opening longitudinally. Ovary globular', 

 sessile, usually 3-4-celled, rarely (in Bergella) five-celled, 

 the cells alternate with the petals ; or in. Crypta mostly two- 

 celled, the cells opposite the petals (anterior and posterior): 

 the placentas in the axis, central, or in Crypta basilar : styles 

 as many as the cells, short or almost wanting, persistent : 

 stigmas dilated. Ovules anatropous, indefinite, covering 

 the thick placentae, in Crypta rather few and all ascending. 

 15 * 



