WATER PLANTAIN TRIBE 293 



leaves, and flowers which m some respects resemble the Crowfoot 

 Tribe. Like the Crowfoots, too, they contain an acrid juice, 

 though the roots of some species, deprived of their acridity by dry- 

 ing, are said to be used as food. 



1. Alisma (Water- Plantain). — Flowers containing both stamens 

 and pistils ; stamens 6 ; carpels numerous, i-seeded. (Name, the 

 Greek name of the plant, and that said to be derived from the 

 Celtic, alts, water.) 



2. AcTiNOCARPUS (Star-fruit). — Like Alisma, except that the 

 carpels are 2-seeded, and spread in a radiate manner. (Name in 

 Greek having the same meaning as the English name.) 



3. Sagittaria (Arrow-head). — Stamens and pistils in separate 

 flowers (m-onoecious) ; stamens numerous ; carpels numerous, 

 i-seeded. (Name from the Latin, sagitta, an arrow, from the shape 

 of the leaves.) 



I. Alisma (Water-Plantain) 



1. A. plantago (Great Water-Plantain). — Leaves all from the root, 

 broad below, and tapering to a point ; flowers in a compound, 

 whorled patticle. A stout, herbaceous plant, 2-3 feet high, with 

 large, stalked leaves, ribbed like those of a Plantain, and a leaf- 

 less whorled panicle of lilac flowers, the petals of which are very 

 delicate and soon fall off. Margins of rivers, lakes, and ponds ; 

 common. — Fl. June to August. Perennial. 



2. A. ranunculoides (Lesser Water- Plantain). — Leaves narrow, 

 and tapering at both ends ; flowers in umbels. Much smaller than 

 the last, and well marked by the above characters, as well as by 

 its larger flowers. Peaty bogs ; not uncommon. 



3. A. natans (Floating Water-Plantain). — Stents leafy and float- 

 ing ; flowers solitary, white, with a yellow spot. Found only in 

 mountain lakes. 



2. AcTiNOCARPUs {Star- fruit) 



I. A. Damasoniutn (Common Star-fruit). — The only British 

 species. An aquatic plant, with the habits of a Water-Plantain. 

 The leaves grow on long stalks and float on the surface of the 

 water ; the flowers, which grow in whorls, are white, with a yellow 

 spot at the base of each petal ; the fruit is composed of six pointed 

 carpels, which are arranged in the form of a star. Ditches in the 

 midland counties ; not common. — Fl. June, July. Perennial. 



3. Sagittaria {Arrow-!: 



I. S. sagittifolia (Common Arrow-head). — The only British 

 species. A pretty plant, well distinguished by its large arrow- 



