WATSIDE WEEDS. 175 



future day that the wake-robin is a petaloid mono- 

 cotyledon ; but all temate division of organs is 

 lost, the stamens and pistils (Fig. 104) are indefinite 

 in number, the perianth is wanting, and its place 

 is suppUed by~the enveloping bract or spathe. 



Quite as abnormal in its way, from our type, 

 is this funny little duckweed which puzzles you 

 altogether ; you see a little leaf or a series of little 

 leaflets — fronds they are often called — all conjoined, 

 with a httle water-root depending from each, but 

 where the flower is, or even should be, is past your 

 comprehension. The fact is, this little duckweed, so 

 called because it affords frequent food to water-fowl, 

 chooses rather to increase by means of little buds 

 which take the place of the stamens and pistils, and so 

 each little leaf throws out other little leaves on 

 each side> but does not throw them off, for they 

 remain attached to their parent, and these again, 

 when they are old enough, send out their own httle 

 leaflets, and so on they go covering the surface of 

 the pool from the fierce heat of summer, giving 

 shelter and houseroom to myriads of water-bred httle 

 beings, and offering at the same time a wonderful 

 example of a most attached family, Nevertheless, 

 examine closely, and in some of the little fronds, or 

 frondose leaves, you may find the two Httle stamens, 

 and the wee httle seed-vessel which is all this duck- 

 weed, or, as the boiianist calls it, Lemna, has to 

 offer. Do not confuse yourself by trying to connect 



