78 THE TAMARISC FAMILY. [Tamarix. 



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 

 J to 1J inches long, forming frequently branching terminal panicles, 

 the petals persisting till the fruit ripens. T. 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. ELATINACEJB. THE ELATINE FAMILY. 



A very small family, confined in Europe to the single 

 genus Matine, but comprising two or three others from hotter 

 or tropical climates. They differ from the tribe Alsinece, 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. Stamens 6. Styles 3 . . . . 1. E. hexandra. 

 Flowers sessile. Petals 4. Stamens 8. Styles 4 . . . . 2. E. Hydropiper. 



1. E. hexandra, DC. (fig. 177). Six-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. E. 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. FL summer. 



2. E. Hydropiper, Linn. (fig. 178). Fight-stamen ed Waterpepper. — 

 Included by the older authors with the last, under the name of E. 

 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 E. 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 in Lough 

 Neagh and the Lagan Canal. Fl. summer. 



