270 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



The Lizard Tail Family. 



(Saueueace^.) 



Csespitose, perennial herbs, with or without radical leaves. 

 Stems about a foot in height. Leaves alternate, or 1 only, 

 generally heart-shaped, with sheathing stipules. Flowers 

 terminal, in short or long tail-like spikes, with or without 

 a corolla-like involucre round the base of the spike ; without 

 corolla or true calyx. Fruit a fleshy berry. Seeds few. 



Of this family about half a dozen species are known. They 

 are natives of the temperate northern hemisphere, growing 

 in marshes and watery places. Lizard Tail (Saururus cernuus), 

 native of Virginia, has been long cultivated at Kew, as also 

 Haattuynia cordata, native of Japan, the roots of which have 

 a strong, unpleasant tidal-mud or fishy odour. 



Anemiopsis Calif ornica. A native of California and 

 Mexico, has also been recently introduced. It diflers from 

 the preceding in having radical leaves ; they are used as 

 domestic medicines by the natives. 



The Water Liverwort Family. 



(PODOSTEMACE^). 



Leafy branching plants like liverworts, not exceeding G 

 inches in height, growing on stones, chiefly in running 

 water ; some consisting of erect stems, with numerous small 

 flowers, having the appearance of a spike of Plantago with 

 ripe seed, others being like glassworts. This singular family 

 consists of nearly 100 species, divided into 21 genera, the 

 greater number being natives of South America. In the 

 region of the Eio Negro they form an important article of 

 food to the natives for the greater part of the year, and New 

 Grenada cattle feed upon them ; several are found in India. 

 Species of Lacis, when burnt, yield alkali. 



