EMPETBUM 



GBOWBEBBY OBDEB 



ALISMA 805 



EMPETRUM (CEOWBEERYOrCEAKE- 



beeey). — A genus with only one species : — 

 E. nigrum. — A tufted native shrub 

 with trailing Heath-like branches 6-18 

 in. long and crowded blunt linear oblong 

 leaves turning red with age, and having 

 the edges turned back so as to meet over 

 the midrib beneath. Flowers from April 

 to June, minute, sessile in the leaf-axils, 

 with 6 reflexed pink perianth segments or 

 petals and 3 stamens. Female flowers 

 succeeded by brownish-black Juniper-like 

 edible berries. The variety ruhrum, from 

 Chih, has brownish-purple flowers, and 

 red berries or drupes. 



Culture arndPropagation. — The Crow- 

 berry is an ornamental evergreen suitable 



for parts of the rock garden with other 

 dwarf shrubs of like character. It flourishes 

 in damp peaty soil, and may be increased 

 by inserting cuttings of the shoots in 

 sandy soil under a handlight during the 

 summer months, keeping them shaded and 

 close for a short time. 



Closely related to Empetrum is the 

 genus CoEEMA, plants of which require 

 the same cultural treatment. C. album 

 (Etnpetrum hisitanicum) is a Portuguese 

 bush about a foot high, with clusters of 

 white flowers in spring. G. Conradi 

 {Empetrum Conradi) from the United 

 States is 6-9 in. high, with narrow linear 

 leaves and white flowers produced in 

 AprU. 



Sub-Class II. MONOCOTYLEDONS 

 Division I. PETALOIBEM (p. 127). Series I. Htpogyn^ (p. 127). 



CXI. NAIADACEiE— Pondweed Order 



An order of marsh or water plants with creeping roots and floating or 

 submerged leaves. Flowers hermaphrodite, monoecious, or dioecious. Peri- 

 anth segments none, or 2-4. Stamens usually 1-4. , 



APONOGETON distachyon (Cape 



PONDWEBD ; WiNTEE HawTHOEN). — A 



charming S. African water plant with 

 oblong lance-shaped floating leaves and 

 branched spikes of white sweet-scented 

 hermaphrodite flowers produced from the 

 end of September to Christmas, and having 

 6 stamens and many carpels. 



Culture and Propagation. — The Win- 

 ter Hawthorn is quite hardy in the milder 

 parts of the kingdom, and flourishes in 

 ponds, lakes, streams, &c. The plants 



should be suiik about a foot below the 

 surface of the water in pots or pans, so 

 that the roots will be protected from frost. 

 They may be divided after the leaves 

 have withered when the roots are at rest. 

 Seeds may also be sown as soon as ripe 

 in sandy soil in pots and submerged in 

 water. In the bleakest localities the 

 plants may be grown in an orclinary room 

 in a bell-glass, or in a tank in a cold 

 greenhouse. 



CXII. ALISMACEiE— Water Plantain Order 



,A small order of water or marsh plants with simple radical leaves and leafless 

 flower-scapes. Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual, with, an inferior perianth, 

 all the segments of which, or only the 3 inner ones, are coloured. Stamens 6 

 or 9 or more. 



ALISMA (Water Plantain). — A 

 small genus of water or marsh perennials 

 with parallel veined leaves, and flowers 

 with 3 petals or segments, borne in whorls 

 or umbels. Stamens 6. 



A. natans (or EUsma natans) is a very 

 rare British species with floating lance- 

 shaped subulate leaves 2-8 in. long, and 



white flowers | in. across with yellow 

 claws, borne in July and August, 2-3 

 together at the rooting joints of the 

 floating stems, from which oblong elliptic 

 leaves are produced. 



Culture &c. as for A. Plantago, 



A. Plantago {Common Water Plcm- 

 tadn). — An ornamental British plant with 



