Aroidee—A rum. 463 
these A. Dractineulus, syn. Dractinculus vulgaris, is perhaps 
the best known. It grows from 2 to 3 feet high, with the 
petiolate leaves pedately divided into five lanceolate segments. 
The stem and petioles are covered with dark purplish blotches. 
Spathe green outside and purplish within. South Europe. 
Orver III. 
HYDROCHARIDACEAR. 
A small order of aquatic 
herbs with erect floating 
or immersed leaves. Uni- 
sexual flowers pedunculate, 
emerging from a _ small 
spathe. Perianth of 6 seg- 
ments, the inner 3 usually 
larger and coloured. Sta- 
mens three or more. Fruit 
inferior, submerged, 1- to 
6-celled, dry or succulent. 
There are two native species 
ofsome interest, namely, Hy- 
drécharis Moérsus- Rane, 
Frog-bit, and Stratidtes 
aloides, Water Soldier. 
The former is a floating 
herb with orbicular leaves 
and white flowers, male and 
female similar, with the in- 
ner segments of the perianth 
larger and crumpled. The 
latter is a submerged 
stoloniferous plant with 
radical long narrow 
toothed leaves, solitary 
female and clustered male 
flowers. Confined in 
' Britain to Eastern Eng- 
land. 
SF 
Fig. 224, Typha latifolia. {About #3, nat, size.) 
