aa THE TAMARISC FAMILY. 
to 5 or 6 feet ; the slender branches erect, or slightly pendulous at the - 
extremities; the numerous scale-like, pointed leaves scarcely above a | 
line long ; flowers pink or white, very small, crowded in spikes of from — 
3 to 14 inches long, forming frequently branching terminal panicles, 
the petals persisting till the fruit ripens. 7’. anglica, Webb. 
Very common on the sandy or marshy sea-coasts of the Mediterranean, — 
and extending up the Atlantic shores of Spain and France, Now esta- 
blished on several parts of the southern coast of England, but believed 
to be only where it has been planted. Fl. early summer. 
XV. ELATINACEA. THE ELATINE FAMILY. 
A very small family, confined in Europe to the single — 
genus Hlatine, but comprising two or three others from hotter 
or tropical climates. They differ from the tribe Alsinew, of — 
Caryophyllacece, in their capitate stigmas, in their ovaries and — 
capsules completely divided into 3 or more cells, and in their 
seeds usually without albumen. 
I. ELATINE, ELATINE. 
Minute, glabrous, aquatic or marsh annuals, with opposite, entire 
leaves, minute, almost microscopical stipules, and very small, axillary, 
solitary flowers. Sepals 3 to 5, sometimes united at the base. Petals 
as many, hypogynous, entire. Stamens as many, or twice as many. 
Styles 3 to 5, with capitate stigmas. Ovary and capsule divided into as 
many cells as styles, opening when ripe in as many valves, leaving the 
dissepiments adhering to the axis. Seeds several. 
A small genus, spread over the northern hemisphere, in the New as 
well as the Old World. 
Flowers stalked. Petals 3. Stamens6. Styles 3 . : rf . L. #. hexandra. 
Flowers sessile. Petals 4. Stamens 8. Styles4 . ; : . 2. H. Hydropiper. 
1. E. hexandra, DC. (fig. 177). Stx-stamened Waterpepper.—This 
little plant forms small, matted, creeping tufts, often under water ; the 
stems seldom above 2 inches long, and often not half an inch. : Leaves 
small, obovate or oblong, tapering at the base. Pedicels 1 to 2 lines 
long. Flowers globular, with 3 rose-coloured petals scarcely longer than 
the calyx. Seeds numerous, beautifully ribbed and transversely striated 
under the microscope. 4#. tripetala, Sm. 
Spread over a wide range, in Europe and North Asia, but its known 
stations always few and scattered. In Britain, recorded from several 
parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and probably frequently over- 
looked from its minuteness. 7. summer. 
2. E. Hydropiper, Linn. (fig. 178). Eight-stamened Waterpepper.— 
Included by the older authors with the last, under the name of Z£. 
Hydropiper, but differs in having sessile flowers, with 4 sepals, petals, 
and styles, and 8 stamens, a more deeply divided calyx, and fewer and 
larger seeds. 
Scattered over the range of £. hexandra, and something mixed with 
it, but more rare. In Britain it has only been observed near Farnham 
_ in Surrey, in Worcestershire, and in Anglesea ; and in Ireland’ 1 in Teuge | 
Neagh and the Lagan Canal. Fl, summer. 
ae) 
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