XXX. LYTHKACE7E. 
147 
Myriophyllum. ] 
1. H. vulgaris L. ( common Mi) ; leaves linear 6 — 8 or 10 in 
a whorl. E. B. t. 763. 
Ditches and usually stagnant waters; less frequent in Scotland. 
71. 6, 7. — Stem erect, simple, jointed. Moris of about 8 leaves, 
which are callous at the point. Flowers at the base of each of the 
upper leaves, not unfrequently destitute of stamens. In deep streams 
of water this plant attains to 2 or 3 feet, with the leaves excessively 
crowded, 3 and even 4 inches in length, pellucid, with an opaque 
nerve, their points not callous ; the whole plant submerged and barren. 
2. Myriophyllum Linn. Water-Milfoil. 
Monoecious. Barren fi. Cal. inferior, of 4 sepals. Pet. 4. 
Stam. 4 — 8. — Fertile fi. Cal. 4-lobed. Pet. 4. Siam. 4—8, or 
wanting. Stigmas 4, sessile. Fruit of 4, sessile, subglobose, 
1-seeded carpels, at length separating. — Name : popioc, a myriad, 
and <j>v\\ov , a leaf ; from its numerous leaves. 
1. M. verticilldtum L. (whorled IF) ; flowers all whorled sub- 
tended by pinnatifid or pectinate bracts longer than the flowers. 
E. B. t. 218. M. pectinatum DC. 
Ponds and ditches throughout England and Wales. 71. 7, 8. — 
Bracteas variable in length ; when many times longer than the flowers, 
it is M. verticil latum DC. ; when only 2 — 3 times as long, it is M. pecti- 
natum DC. But between these there are intermediate forms. 
2. M. spicdtum L. (spiked TF.) ; flowers all whorled longer 
than but subtended by bracts forming an interrupted leafless 
spike. E. B. t. 83. 
Ditches and stagnant waters, common. 71 . 6, 7. — Stems slender, 
much branched. Leaves 4 is a whorl, finely pectinate and always 
submerged. Spikes slender, 3 — 5 inches long, erect when in bud. 
Bracts small, lower ones pectinate, upper ovate and entire. This only 
differs from some forms of the last by the still shorter bracteas. 
3. M. alternifivrum DC- (alternate- flowered IF); sterile 
flowers mostly alternate on an erect leafless spike, fertile ones 
1 — 4 in the axils of pectinated leaves at the base of the spike. 
E. B. S. t. 2854. 
Ponds and ditches in many places, in England, Jersey, and Scot- 
land. Tj.. 5 — 8. — Very near the preceding, it must be confessed, 
or, as it were, intermediate between it and M. verticillatum. Dr. Brom- 
tield considered the leaves to be always 3 in a whorl, not 4 ; but they 
are not so represented in E. Bot. Spikes drooping when in bud. 
Okd. XXX. LYTHRACEiE Juss. 
Calyx of 1 piece, free, persistent, the lobes varying in num- 
ber valvate or distant in aestivation, often with intermediate 
H 2 
