

38 PLANTS GROWING IN WATER. 
staminate members apart. The pistillate ones also deck them- 
selves in very seemly little petals that fall early and do not vie 
in comeliness with those of the staminate blossoms. It hardly 
seems possible that one of these little under-flowers would ever 
have the courage to call out boldly: Joseph, thou art keeping 
the sunshine from falling upon my head. 
S. lancifolia is the arrow-head that grows southward from 
Virginia. Its lower whorls of flowers are better developed 
than those of its northern sisters, and the plant is, therefore, 
more showy and beautiful. 
WATER-PLANTAIN. (Pilate X.) 
Alisma Plantago-aguatica, 
FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 
Water-plantain, Rose white. Scentless. General. Late summer. 
Flowers : small; numerous; whorled in panicles. Calyx: of three persistent 
sepals. Corolla: of three deciduous or falling petals. Stamens: four to six. 
Pistils: numerous. Leaves: from the base; on long petioles; rather lanceo- 
late ; ribbed; closely resembling those of the door-yard plantain. Scape : vary- 
ing greatly in height. 
One would at once discover the kinship between the water 
plaintain and the arrow-head, although the latter is a much more 
pleasing flower. But, if plain, our little plant is generous. It 
distributes itself very widely, and its corm-like tubers are said 
to be greatly enjoyed as an article of food by the Kalmucks. 
AMPHIBIOUS KNOTWEED. (Pate X7) 
Polygonum amphibium. 
FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR “RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 
Buckwheat. Rose. Scentless. Mostly north. July, August. 
Flowers: rather showy ; massed in a dense spike. Calyx: of five petal-like, 
parted sepals. Corolla: none. Stamens: five, exserted. stil: one; style, 
two-cleft. Leaves: on long petioles; cordate; oblong; floating. Stem : sub- 
merged, rooting in the mud. oo¢stock : corm-like. 
This little aquatic sometimes strays from its home, and is 
found flourishing upon the land. But we may imagine that it 
is always glad to return and add its delicate grace to brighten 
the siow-running streams. 

