roundish, 1-seeded, the size of a large pea. Oemmula viviparous, or com- 
mencing to vegetate as soon as mature, (cotyledons none), primary vagi- 
nate leaves 2 or 8, linear, and subulate, the 4th leaf usually exhibiting a 
small lamina. Primary radicle conspicuous, conic. Somorhize * roundish, 
large, dark green, umbilically depressed at the summit, having a small 
concealed internal cavity, and a lateral shallow groove, for the reception 
of the gemmule, which is appressed to it, and curved over the greater 
part of the somorhize." 
A native of North America, from Canada to Florida, grow- 
ing in rivulets, and low and stagnant waters (Pursh), and, as 
Mr NuTTALL believes, almost exclusively within the limits 
of tide-water. It bears the winter well with us, and is readily 
cultivated in ponds, along with other aquatic plants. It was 
introduced to this country by Dr John Fothergill, in the 
year 1775, but hitherto no delineation of it has appeared in 
any British botanical publication. That in the Amoenitates 
Academicce, if really intended for this plant, conveys a most 
incorrect idea of it ; for the scape is represented as deeply fur- 
rowed, furnished with a large bractea ; the leaf has one central 
rib, and several lateral parallel nerves, resembling the foliage of 
most Dicotyledonous Plants. 
Pursh observes, what I did not remark, that the flowers 
have a very peculiar smell. 
The drawing, from which the annexed plate was engraved, 
was taken from specimens communicated from the Botanic 
Garden of Liverpool in June last, by Mr H. Shepherd. 
Fig. 1. Scape with its spadix. Fig. 2. Leaf. Fig. 3. Single flower. Fig. 4. 
Leaflet of the perianth. Fig. 5. Stamen. Fig. 6. Pistil. Fig. 7. The 
same cut through vertically — All but Fig. 1. and 2. more or less mag- 
ni/ied. 
• <• In this case, a large, [round, ingerminative body, laterally connected by a vascular 
system to the gemmule, and forming the principal part of the seed." 
