Obdbb 150.— PONTBDBRIACBA 721 



to 12, hypogynous, longer than the sepals; anthers introrse; styles 3 ; 

 capsule 3-partible, oo-seeded. — 2f Herb glabroas, -with a slender, rush- 

 like stem, dry, rush-like Ivs., and a raceme of 6 to 9 yellow fls. 



P. teanifolia Rich. Bogs, N. Car. (Curtis), S. Car. (MicUx.) St. 1 to 2f high, 

 from red, fibrous roots. Lvs. perennial-green, very narrow, sheatliing at base, 

 nearly Iflong. Caps, brown. ■ 



Ordkb CL. PONTEDERIACE^. Pontbderiads. 



PUmis aquatic, with the leaves parallel-veined, mostly dilated at base. Fls. spath- 

 aceous. Perianth tubular, colored, 6-parted, often irregular and oiroinato after 

 flowering. Stamens 3 or 6, unequal, perigynous. Ovary free, 3-eelled. Style 1. 

 Stigma simple. Capsule 3 (sometimes l)-oelled, 3-valved, with looulioidal dehis- 

 cence. Seeds numerous (sometimes soUtary), attached to a central axis. Albumen 

 farinaceous. 



Qenera 6, species 80, fonnil exclusively In America, E. Indies, and tropical Africa. They are 

 of no known use. 



GENERA. 



Flowers irregular, blue. Stamens 6. tJtriclo l-seeded Pontedeeia. 1 



Flowers regular. — Anthers 8, of 2 forms. Leaves reniform Heterantoera. 2 



— Anthers 3, of one form. Leaves linear Schollkra. 8 



1. POKTEDE^RIA, L. Pickerel Weed. (In honor of JaZiMS Pcm- 

 tedera, a botanic author and professor, of Padua, about 1720.) Perianth 

 bilabiate, tubular at base, under side of the tube split with 3 longitudi- 

 nal clefts (the 2 lower sepals free), circinate after flowering and persis- 

 tent ; stamens unequally inserted, 3 near the base and 3 at the summtt 

 of the tube; utricle 1-seeded (2 cells abortive).— Lvs. radical, long- 

 petioled. St. 1-leaved, bearing a spike of blue fls. 



1 P. cordata L. I/os. cordate-oblong, obtuse ; petiole shorter than the peduncle ; 

 spike cylindrical, pubescent. — 1( Can. and IJ. S. A fine, conspicuous plant, na- 

 tive of the borders of muddy lakes, &c., growing in patches extending from the 

 shores to deep water. Stem thick, round, erect, arising 1 — 2f above the water, 

 bearing a single leaf. Leaves 4 — 7' by 1-J — 3', very smooth and glossy, almost 

 sagittate, with veins beautifully arranged to conform to the margin. Flowers in 

 a spike, arising above the spathe, very irregular. Perianth 2-lipped, each lip 3- 

 deft, always blue, appearing in July. 



13. ANQUSTiE'OLiA Torr. Lvs. narrow, truncate and subcordate at base. 



2 P. lancifolia Muhl. Lvs. lance-oblong or lance-linear, rather acute at each end ; 

 petiole shorter than the peduncle; spike cylindrical, pubescent. — rools and 

 ditches, Ga. (Feay) and S. Car. More slender every way than the other, 15 to 30' 

 high. We can detect no diflerence in its flowers, but the permanCAt difference 

 of the leaves is worthy of consideration. Apr., May. 



2. HETERAN'THERA, Euiz & Pav. (Gr. irepa, otherwise, dvdr]pd; 

 the anthers being dissimilar in the same flower.) Spathe several- 

 flowered ; tube of the perianth long and slender, limb 6-parted, equal ; 

 stamens 3 ; anthers of 2 forms, the lower oblong-sagittate, on a longer 

 filament ; capsule 3-celled, many-seeded. Lvs. mostly reniform, long- 

 petioled. 



H. reniformis R. & P. St. prostrate or floating; lvs. suborbicular, reniform or 

 auriculate at base ; spathe acuminate, few-flowered. — On muddy or inundated 

 banks, Mid. and W. States. Stem 4' to a foot or more in length. Leaves J' by 

 5', on petioles 1 — 2' long, with a broad sinus at base, and a short, abrupt acumi- 

 nation. Spathe closely enveloping the 2 or 3 very evanescent, white flowers. 

 Tube of the perianth J' long, limb in 6 oblong segments. FUaments inserted at 



46 



