DI0EC1A DIANDRIA 557 



I. V. sfikalis, L. var. americana, Torr. Leaves linear, obtuse, 

 minutely aculeate on the margin ; pistillate scapes flexuosc. Beck 



V. americana- Mjc. Jm. 2. p. 220. Willd. Sp. 4. p. 651. Pers. Svu. 

 %p. 598. Muhl. Catai.p. 91. Pursh, Jim. 2. p. 602. JK'utt. Gen S 

 /,, 230- Bart. Phil. 2. />. 188. EIL Sk. 2. //, 666. Bird. Bost t> 

 364. /Y©rw/. Cto/r. />, 108. ' ' 



Spiral Vallisxkiiia. r///^— Eel-grass. Tape-grass. Channel-weed. 

 Root perennial, fibrous. Leans all radical, 9 to IS inches, or 2 feet, in length, 

 and 1 sixth to half an inch wide, linear and somewhat grass-like, obtuse, entire' 

 and usually with very minute aculeate teeth on the margin, obscurely 3-nervcd' 

 ilriate, smooth, thin, deep green. Pistillate flowers on interfoliaceous scape lib J 

 peduncles 9 to 18 inches, or more, in length (varying with the depth of water),- 

 the peduncle slender and filiform, or a little thickened towards the flower, flexu- 

 ose rather than spiral, floating, with the flower at or near the surface , spat/ie 

 tbotit half an inch long, tubular, embracing the ovary, bifid, membranaceous; 

 perianth whitish, with tinges of purple, 3 outer segments ovate, the 3 inner onw 

 linear, very small ; ovaiy inferior, about 3 fourths of an inch long, and scarcely 

 a line wide, linear, somewhat compressed, or ancipital, with keel-like margins 

 iiK'Stly of a dingy greenish purple. 



Bab. Slow-flowing waters of the Brandy wine: frequent. Fl August. T>. 



Obs. I have not yet observed the staminate plant. The pistillate ones art 

 numerous, and obvious enough at the season of flowering, in the waters of ih« 

 Krandywine, and ojicr considerable streams. Wilson, in his Ornithology, 6a ys 

 the roots of this plant are the favorite food of the Canvass-back Duck,—lo whick 

 the peculiarly delicate flavor of the flesh of that bird has been ascribed. The 

 farts wbich are usually procumbently floating, aflbrd a hiding-place for EeU,— 

 whence one of its common names. It is the only species in the U. Stales ; ami 

 probably, as Pursh suggested, not specifically distinct from the European V, 

 spiralis. 



147. SALIX. /,. Mitt. Gen. 780. 

 [Celtic, Sal, near, and Lis, water; alluding to their place of growth.] 



STAHIKXTI Fl. Jlments cylindric; scales imbricated, 1 -flowered, 

 Perianth 0. Stamens 2 to 5, with a nectariferous gland at base. Pis- 

 tillate Fl. Jlments cylindric; scales imbricated, 1-flowcred. Per- 

 ianth 0. Ovary lance-ovoid, acuminate, with a nectariferous gland 

 at base; Hfamto*, often bifid. Capsule 1-cellcd, 2-valvcd ; valve* 

 acuminate, the beaks finally revolutc. Seeds numerous, minute, COmote. 



Trees, or shrubs, rarely suffruticose : leaves alternate, mostly stipul »• flowers 

 jo axillary and terminal aments. JSat. Ord. 84. Lindl. Salicineje. 



f Leaves entire, or obsoLtcly serrate. 



1. S. recuhvata, Pursh. Leaves lance-obovate, acute, very entire, 

 silky pubescent when young, finally smooth, glaucous beneath ; stipule? 

 caducous; scales black at apex, pilose, the hairs as long as the ovary ; 

 ovaries silky-pubescent, on short pedicels; ktyle very short; ititrma* 

 litid Beck, Bot. p. 318. 



/tKCl'BVKD SALIX. 



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