Localities. — Under water, in slow streams, ditches, and ponds ; not uncom- 1 
mon. — Oxfordshire ; Plentiful about Oxford. — Berks; About Wallingford: 
Mr. W. Willis, Engraver, Wallingford. — Cambridgesh. In ditches and ponds: 
Rev. R. Reliian. — Devon; River Clyst, by Clyst Bridge: FI. Devon. — 
Durham; In ditches on Durham Moor: Rev. J. Symons — Essex; In Mr. 
Warner’s, and most of the ponds on the Forest, near Woodford ; very common, 
1771; Richard Warner, Esq. — Kent; Fish-pond in a wood behind the 
Sussex Tavern, and elsewhere: FI. Tonb. In S. Kent: Rev. G. E. Smith. — 
Middlesex ; Thames near Hampton Court I (without flowers) : Mr. Watson, in 
N. li. G. — Norfolk; Not uncommon: Hist. Yar. Heigham near Norwich: 
N. J. Winch, Esq. — In Nottinghamshire : T. H. Cooper, Esq. in N. B. G. — 
Somersetshire ; In the Canal, near Bath: C. C. Babington, Esq. — Suffolk ; 
Near Bungay : Mr. D. Stock, in N. B. G. — In Sussex ; Rev. G. E. Smith, in 
N. B. G. — Warwickshire ; In a stew of the Rev. W. T. Bree’s at Allesley : 
T. Porton, Esq — Worcestershire; In fish-ponds at W. Rawlins’, Esq. 
Brockencot, filling nearly the whole of one pool: T. Purton, Esq. — SCOT- 
LAND; Common: Sir W, J. Hooker. — IRELAND; Pools near the Bridge 
at Navan: Dr. Scott. Near Ktllaleagh, Isle of Rathlin, and Lough Neagh : 
Mr. Templeton. 
Perennial. — Flowers in August and September. 
Root striking deep in the mud. Stem floating entirely under 
water, long, slender, and much branched. Leaves in whorls, 
spreading, about 8 in a whorl, the lower whorls most distant, the 
upper closer, those towards the top very much crowded ; each leaf 
repeatedly cut into tine, strap-shaped, equal, pointed, roughish 
segments. Flowers few, in the axils of the leaves, solitary, sessile, 
pale green. Anthers sessile. Fruit (fig. 3.) armed with 2 spread- 
ing lateral spines, and a terminal one from the elongated Stigma ; 
all very variable in length. Differs from Ceratophyllum submersum 
in the armed fruit. 
This is an elegant plant in appearance, and seems to be an excellent shelter 
for fish ; giving way to the slightest pressure. Mr. Purton mentions this plant 
having become very abundant in a pond, (after the process of mudding,) wherein 
it had been unknown before; and conjectures that, till then, the seeds must 
have been buried too deep for vegetation ; a circumstance which, doubtless, may 
frequently account for the fluctuating appearance of plants. See Part. Midi. 
FI. and With. Bot. Arr. 
The Natural Order Ceratophyllfje consists of apetalous, 
dicotyledonous, floating herbs, with multifid, cellular leaves ; monoe- 
cious flowers ; and an inferior, many-parted calyx. In the barren 
flowers the stamens are from 12 to 20 in number; the anthers are 
2-celled, and without filaments. In the fertile flower (which is 
destitute of stamens) the ovary ( germenj is superior, and 1-celled ; 
the ovule fseedj is solitary, and pendulous; the stigma thread- 
shaped, oblique, and sessile ; the nut (figs. 3 and 4.) 1-celled, 
1 -seeded, indehiscent, and terminated by the hardened stigma. The 
seed is solitary, pendulous, and without albumen ; it has an embryo 
of 4 cotyledons, which are alternately smaller ; with a many-leaved 
plumule; and a superior radical. — Ceratophyllum is the only 
genus in the order. 
