282 



CLASSIFICATION 



Nat. Order 4. Alismacece. — Aquatic or marshy 

 plants with radical leaves and panicled or umbellate 

 inflorescence in scapes. Flowers i- or 2-sexual. 

 Perianth inferior, segments 6, 3 outer sepaloid and 

 herbaceous, 3 inner petaloid. Stamens 6, 9, or in- 

 definite. Pistil of 3, 6, or more carpels, apocarpous, 

 superior. Ovule i or more in each carpel. Fruit 

 a cluster of achenes or follicles. Seeds minute. 



Fig. 254. — Alisma Planiago Fig. 255. — Chota-kat f^Sagittnria sagittifolia) 



This family represents the family of Ranunculace(^ 

 among the Dicotyledons in having the pistil apocar- 

 pous and multiple, and innumerable hypogynous 

 stamens. The Order is cosmopolitan. The common 

 plants are three or four species of Alisma (fig. 254), 

 with lanceolate, cordate, or sagittate leaves, herma- 

 phrodite flowers, and solitary ovules; one species 

 of Limnophyton, with sagittate erect leaves, milky 

 juice, polygamous flowers, and solitary ovules; two 

 species of Sagiitaria (fig. 255), with long-petioled, 

 sagittate or elliptic-cordate leaves, unisexual flowers, 

 and solitary ovules; and Butomopsis lanceolata 



