398 BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS chap. 



Teiglochin 



Perianth of 6 nearly equal segments. Stamens 6 ; 

 carpels 3 or 6. Protogynous wind flowers. There 

 are two British species — T. palustre with 3, T. mari- 

 timum with 6 carpels. The stigmas precede in maturity 

 the anthers by two or three days. Underneath each 

 stamen is a deeply concave perianth leaf, into the 

 hollow of which, when the anther opens, the pollen 

 falls. There it rests till the wind rises and it is thrown 

 out. As in so many other wind flowers, the stigma is 

 brush-like. The fruits are sharply pointed, diverging, 

 and turned downwards, being attached by their sum- 

 mits to a stiff erect axis, so that they are easily brushed 

 off' by, and run into the fur or skin of, any passing 

 animal. 



HYDEOCHAEIDE^ 



Elodea 



Trioecious water plants. 



E. canadensis (Water-thyme). — This is a Canadian 

 plant. It was introduced into Ireland about 1836, 

 appearing in England in 1841, and became so well 

 established as often to choke canals and streams. This 

 rapid propagation was a purely vegetative one of the 

 female plant. In Britain the male has only been 

 found near Edinburgh. 



Hydrocharis (Frogbit) 



Dioecious plant, with half-concealed honey. 



H. Morsus-ranse. — The petals have a nectar scale at 

 the base. The plant has no fixed roots, but floats loose 

 on the water. The flowers rarely produce seeds ; the 

 plant throws off" short shoots, which sink to the bottom, 

 but rise again and develop in the following spring. 



