284 



CLASSIFICATION 



Nat. Order 6. Pontederiacece. — Marsh herbs or 

 fresh-water aquatics of the habit of Alismacece, flowers 

 like those of the latter, with this difference, namely, 

 the pistil consists of 3 carpels, syncarpous, forming 

 a 3-celled ovary. The Order is tropical. Monochoria 

 hastcefolia and Monochoria vaginalis are two species 

 very common in marshy places and shallow tanks in 

 Calcutta and the neighbourhood. Eichornia crassipes 

 or Water Hyacinth (see Plate 

 III) was hardly known in and 

 about Calcutta a few years ago, 

 but now it has overspread all 

 marshes and tanks with its large 

 broadly ovate or cuneate deep- 

 green glabrous and coriaceous 

 leaves, which float by the help 

 of the swollen end of the petiole 

 and grow so thickly as to com- 

 pletely cover the water. The 

 spiked scapes with pale-blue or 

 purple flowers (Plate VII, fig. b) 

 are seen from a great distance 

 to rise above the surface of the 

 water and form a conspicuous feature of the scenery* 

 When it spreads over flowing rivers it impedes navi- 

 gation seriously. It is a Brazil plant, and has been 

 called Water Hyacinth, though it has nothing to do 

 with the true Hyacinth. 



Fig. 257. — PotaTnogeton crisptts 



Series 2. — Epigynece : Ovary Inferior 



Nat. Order 7. AmaryllidacecB. — Sim\\a.r to Liliacece, 

 from which it differs in having an inferior ovary. 



A large family widely distributed but chiefly in dry 

 sunny climates. Common plants: rajani-gandha or 



