WATERWORT TAMILV 



89 



I * T. ^dllii-a (Common Tamarisk). — A handsome e^'ergreen 

 shrub or small tree, with long flexible reddish /'/-liz/r/^^, and closely 

 adpressed scale-like leaves which give the tree a light feathery 

 appearance. 'Y\\& floivei-s are rose-colour. — Though extensively 

 planted on the south and east coasts, this shrub is not in- 

 digenous. — Fl. July — September. 



Ori.>. X\'. Elai i'ne.f,. — Thp; ^^'atrrwokt Famii \' 



Xlostly minute a(iuatic annual herbs, with prostrate stems, root- 

 ing at their nodes : and opposite, stipulate leaves : sepals, petals, 

 and carpels 2 — 5, each ; sepals free or united ; stamens equalling, 

 or twice as many as, the petals ; ovary syncarpous, 2 — 5-chambered, 

 w'hh as many styles and valves to the ripe capsule ; seeds wrinkled, 



el.ati'nk )!RX'.ixDEA {Six-staincilCti ]Vatc 



numerous ; plaee?itatlon axile. These plants arc found in most 

 parts of the world. 



I. Elatine ("\"\'aterwort). — \ery small glabrous plants; leaves 

 spathulate ; plowers minute, axillarv ; seeds cylindric, furrowed, 

 and transversely striated. (Name of Greek origin.) 



1. E. hexatidi-a (.Six-stamened 'W'aterwort). — A minute plant, 

 forming turfy beds on the margin of lakes, or entirely submersed. 

 When left by the subsiding water it assumes a bright red hue. 

 Flowers inconspicuous, stalked, 3-merous ; stamens 6. Kare. — • 

 Fl. July — September. Annual. 



2. E. Hydropiper (Eight-stamened \\'aterwort, ^Vater Pejiper). 

 — Differing in having sessile, 4-merous /lerwers : stamens S. 

 Growing in similar situations to the preceding, but even rarer, — 

 Fl. July, August. ^Annual. 



