I. HYDEOCHARIDE^. 



755 



Sydrocharis, 



Stigmatlc branch, 

 opposite to sepals. 



Bydrocharis. 



Stigmatic branch, 

 opposite to petals. 



Hydroc^aris. 



Young fruit 



(mag.). 



ffydrocharis. 



Fruit, entire and dehiscent (nat. 



Bydrocharis. 

 Embryo seen in front (ma^.)' 



ffydrocharis Morsus-rana. 

 Embryos seen in profile in varions stages of germination (mag.)* 



Flo"WEES usually diclinovs, enclosed in a membranous spathe. Perianth 6-merous, 



■ 2-seriate {calyx and corolla). Stamens 3-6-9—12, inserted at the base of the perianth, 



several often sterile. Ovaby inferior, 1- or more-celled ; ovules several in each cell, 



ascending or orthoiropous, placentation parietal. FEtriT a utricle or berry. Seeds 



exalbuminous. — Aquatic plants. Leaves usually radical. 



Aquatic hebbs, usually perennial, submerged or floating, stoloniferous, some- 

 times gemmiparous at the axils {Sydrocharis). Eootstock short and creeping, or 

 elongated, jointed and knotted, cylindric. Leaves usually all radical, rarely cauline, 

 opposite or whorled {JJdora, Anacharis, &c.), floating or submerged, sometimes 

 emerged, petiolate ; blade entire, vernation convolute ; petiole sometimes sheathing 

 at the base, often reduced to a phyllode by the arrest of the blade ; nerves longitu- 

 dinal, margins denticulate (FaZitswerw, BZ^ica). Flowers dioecious, rarely 5 {Udora, 

 Ottelia) ; buds enclosed in a membranous or herbaceous spatlie, which is sessile or 



