WATERWORT FAMILY 89 



i.* T. gdllica (Common Tamarisk). — A handsome evergreen 

 shrub or small tree, with long flexible reddish branches, and closely 

 adpressed scale-like leaves which give the tree a light feathery 

 appearance. The flowers are rose-colour. — Though extensively 

 planted on the south and east coasts, this shrub is not in- 

 digenous. — Fl. July — September. 



Ord. XV. Elatine^e. — The Waterwort Family 



Mostly minute aquatic annual herbs, with prostrate stems, root- 

 ing at their nodes ; and opposite, stipulate leaves ; sepals, petals, 

 and carpels 2 — 5, each ; sepals free or united ; stamens equalling, 

 or twice as many as, the petals ; ovary syncarpous, 2 — 5-chambered, 

 with as many styles and valves to the ripe capsule ; seeds wrinkled, 



elati'ne hexandra {Six-stamened Waterwort). 



numerous ; placentation axile. These plants are found in most 

 parts of the world. 



1. Elatine (Waterwort). — Very small glabrous plants; leaves 

 spathulate ; flowers minute, axillary ; seeds cylindric, furrowed, 

 and transversely striated. (Name of Greek origin.) 



1. E. hexandra (Six-stamened Waterwort). — A minute plant, 

 forming turfy beds on the margin of lakes, or entirely submersed. 

 When left by the subsiding water it assumes a bright red hue. 

 Flowers inconspicuous, stalked, 3-merous ; stamens 6. Rare. — 

 Fl. July — September. Annual. 



2. E. Hydropiper (Eight-stamened Waterwort, Water Pepper). 

 — Differing in having sessile, 4-merous flowers; stamens 8. 

 Growing in similar situations to the preceding, but even rarer. — 

 Fl. July, August. Annual. 



