314 81. HTDROCHABTDACE^. 82. OECHTDACB^. 
2. Steatio'tes Linn. "Water Soldier. 
1. S. alorides (L.); !• swordshaped-triangiilar ciliate-spinous. 
— E. B. 379. R. yii. 61. — Creeping extensively in the mud. L. 
many, rigid like those of an Aloe. Stalk compressed, 5 or 6 in. 
high, with two 1. near its summit. Fl. white, delicate. The plant 
rises to the sm-face of the vater to flower and sinks again after- 
wards. — Fen-ditches in the East of England; naturalized in 
Scotland. P. VII. E. 
3. Aijach'akis Rich. Water Thyme. 
*1. A. Alsitias'trum (Bab.) ; 1. 3 in a whorl oval-oblong blunt 
seiTulate, fem. fl. with a tubular bifid spath many times longer 
than the sessile gennen, sep. and pet. broad neai'ly equal, stigmas 
reflexed. — A. N. H. Ser. 2. i. t. 8. JElodea canadensis Benth. 
(Rich. ?}. — St. long, branching ; whorls of leaves many, close 
together. Fl. veiy small but with a very long tube, from the 
axil of a leaflike bract placed within the whorl of leaves. Sep. 
tinged with green and pink externally, incurved, hooded. Pet. 
fiat, transparent, recurved, oblong. Filaments at first cur\-ed 
outwards, their points placed under the hood of the sepals, 
afterwards erect, linear, bhmt. Anth. 0. Stigmas recurved, 
linear, or deeply bifid. Sep. pet. and stigmas of about equal 
length. Style adnate on 3 sides to the tube. Male fl. unknown 
in England. — In water. Probably introduced from America, 
where the same or closely allied species are found. Canals and 
rivers. P. \ai.— IX. E. S. I. 
Order LXXXII. OECHIDACE^. 
Sep. 3, usually coloured. Pet. 3, 2 above, 1 below (lip) fre- 
quently lobed and spim-ed and unlike the others. Stam. 3, united 
in a centi'al column, 2 lateral aboi-tive, or (in C;/pripedium) the 
middle one aboi-tive. Pollen powdery or adhering in masses. 
Ovary 1-ceUed, inferior, with 3 parietal placentas. Stvie forming 
part of the colimm with the stamens ; stigma a viscid space in 
front of the column. Caps. 3-valved. Seeds very many, minute. 
Testa loose, netted. 
Tribe I. OPHRYDINEjE. Anther wholly adnate to the co- 
lumn. PoUen-masses in divisible lobes which are indefinite 
in number and waxy, stalked. — Root with 2 fleshy entire or 
palmate knobs below the fibres. 
* Anther-ceUs with a prolongation of the stigma between their bases, 
1. Orchis. Perianth lingent, hooded. Lip 3-lobed, spurred, 
f ilands of the stalks of the pollen- masses in a common pouch. 
