78 THE TAMARISO FAMILY. [ Tamarix. 
of 3 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 } to 
13 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 found 
on several parts of the southern coast of England, and apparently esta- 
blished there, but believed to be only where it has been planted. Jl. early 
summer, 
XV. ELATINACEA, THE ELATINE FAMILY. 
A very small family, confined in Europe to the single 
genus Elatine, but comprising two or three others from hotter 
or tropical climates. They differ from the tribe Alsinew, of 
Caryophyllacec, 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 ad- 
hering to the axis. Seeds several. 
A small genus, spread over the northern hemisphere, in the new as well 
as the old world. 
Flowers stalked. Petals3, Stamens6. Styles3. . . . 1. E. hevandra, 
Flowers sessile. Petals 4. Stamens 8. Styles 4. - « « & H. Hydropiper. 
1. &. hexandra, DC. (fig. 176). Six-stamened Hlatine. 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 ;tranversely striated under the 
microscope. LH. 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 overlooked 
from its minuteness. Fl. summer. 
2. &. Hydropiper, Linn. (fig. 177). Hight-stamened Elatine.—Included 
by the older authors with the last, under the name of #. 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 H. hexandra, and sometimes mixed with it, 
but more rare. In Britain it has only been observed near Farnham in 
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