290 SUB-ALPINE PLANTS 



2-4 cm. long, cylindrical, compact, on longish peduncles. Carpel 

 compressed, keeled at the back, with distinct beak. 



Stagnant or slowly running water, especially in the mountains. 



Distribution. — Europe, N. and N.W. Asia, N. America. British. 



Many of the British species of Potamogeion are found in Switzer- 

 land, but chiefly in the plains. 



JUNCAGINACE^ 



A small family of about 12 species, inhabiting temperate and 

 cold regions of the Old and New Worlds. The characters resemble 

 those of Naiadaceae, but the leaves are erect and rush-like. 



Triglochin L. 



Tufted herbs, with linear, fleshy, more or less cylindrical, radical 

 leaves, and leafless flower-stems, bearing a slender raceme or spike 

 of small green flowers without bracts. Perianth of 6 nearly equal 

 segments. Fruit of 3 or 6 i-seeded carpels, each bearing a feathery 

 stigma. About 10 species, chiefly maritime, inhabiting temperate 

 regions. 



Triglochin palustre L. 



Leaves semi-cylindric, channelled, succulent, varying from 3-8 

 inches long, sheathing at the base. Flower-stems 6-12 inches high, 

 bearing a terminal slender spike of small greenish yellow flowers, 

 which are at first sessile, but very shortly pedicelled when mature. 

 Carpels 3, united, but separating on maturity. Fruit linear-fusiform. 



Marshes and damp meadows in the plains and mountains. May 

 to September. It extends upwards to at least 8000 feet in Dauphiny 

 and Savoy ; though in England it often grows in swamps at sea- 

 level with T. maritimum. 



Distribution. — Europe, Central and Northern Asia, N. America. 



SCHEUCHZERIA L. 



Dedicated to Scheuchzer, a Swiss botanist of the eighteenth 

 century. The genus comprises one species only. It differs chiefly 

 from the last genus in the stem being leafy. Flowers in racemes, 

 small, green, bracteate, on leafy scapes. Leaves slender. Fruit 

 composed of 3 inflated carpels. 



Scheuchzeria palustris L. 



A rush-like plant, 8-12 inches high. Leaves few, linear, sheathing 

 at the base, then narrowed and almost cylindrical ; the upper ones 

 passing into short, sheathing floral-bracts. Flowers few, rather 

 small, shortly pedicelled, yellowish green, forming a short loose, 

 terminal raceme on a curved scape. Perianth of 6 reflexed segments. 



