374 



14. BUTOMUS UMBELLATUS. [CL. IX. 



ment. On the receptacle there stand nine reddish, uniform 

 filaments, with yellow bilocular anthers, which are more early 

 developed than the stigmata, and are thus an example of the 

 androgynous dichogamy. Six ovaria stand together in the 

 centre, of a star-shape, and in their corners we perceive 

 ssx honey-drops oozing out. These ovaria are surmounts 

 ed by flat stigmata, somewhat emarginated, reflex, and 

 warty. The withered flower continues after the decay. The 

 germen consists of six simple capsules, which open laterally 

 and contain the oval, furrowed seed, fixed in two rows at the 

 sides. The seeds contain a great deal of mealy albumen, 

 and at one end is the unevolved embryon, in the shape of a 

 point. 



Affinity. 



The nearest related to this plant are the genera Hydro-> 

 cleis, Commers. (Richard in Mem. du Mus. i. t. 18.), and 

 Hydrogeton^ Pers., which are distinguished from it almost 

 solely by the numerical proportions. In the latter genus, there 

 is but half the number of petals and ovaria, and but six an- 

 theras. The seed contains no albuminous substance, which is a 

 remarkable circumstance, (Enc. Suppl. iv. p. 237.) Alisma^ 

 Sagittaria, and Limnockaris, are related to this plant, al- 

 though the embryon in them lies folded together in a pud- 

 ding shape, without albumen. Hence, if we attend to the 

 character of the embryon only, we cannot exactly place our 

 plant with the Alismese of De Candolle. But if, as is proper, 

 we take all the other marks into consideration, we must place 

 it among the Hydrocharidae, from which, however, the genus 

 Nectris Schreb. must be banished, because, according to la- 

 ter observations, its embryon is unfolded, and has distinctly 

 two cotyledons, {Rctfinesque in Siliman's Journ. qf Nexo. 

 YorJc, vol. i. p. 374.) Respecting the Hydrocharidae, vid. 

 Anleit. ii. s. 262. 



Synonymes and Figures. 



Gladiolus palustris, VaL Cord. Hist. 100. Ger. Emac. 

 Gl. Afiuatilis Dodon. 601, 



