HEXANDRIA, MONOGYlSriA. 
163 
162. PONTEDERIA. Gen. pi. 545. (Mircissi.) 
Corolla inferior, 6-cleft, bilabiate ; under side 
of the tube perforated with 3 longitudinal 
foramina, lower part persistent, calicine. 
Stamina unequally inserted, 3 of them 
upon the summit of the tube. Utriculus 
muricate, 1 -seeded. — J\* utt. 
1. P. leaves oblong-cordate, obtuse ; spike crowd- corfat*. 
ed, many-flowered ; segments of the corolla ob- 
lo!Sg. — ivilld. and Pursh. 
Icon. Piuk. mant. t. 349. f. ult. Bot. Mag. 
1156. 
Heart-leaved Pontederia. Pickerel-weed. JVampee. 
A very beautiful plant, two, or two and a half feet high, 
with a single heart-shaped leaf, and fine Prussian-blue flowers 
in a crowded spike On tlie marshy shores of the Delaware, 
Schuylkill, and smaller streams emptying into them, growing 
with splatterdocks, very common and very abundant. Peren- 
nial. July. 
There is a smaller variety with long, narrow hastate or tri- 
angular leaves, growing along the borders of the Delaware 
below the navy-yard, that appears to fit Pursh’s description 
of P. angustifolia, which he collected in the mountain-lakes; 
and I really think it is the plant intended by that author, under 
the name just mentioned. 1 have collected many specimens, 
but in none is the difference in the breadth of the corolla seg- 
ments observable. I therefore consider it a mere variety. 
The plant I allude to, is distinct from Muhlenberg’s P. lan- 
cifolia, of which .1 have examined specimens in the Muld. 
Herb Mr. Elliot seems inclined to the opinion that even that 
is but a variety of P. cordata. I should not think so from Muhl- 
enberg’s specimens. 
163. ALETRIS. Gen. pi. ,579. Mich. FI. Am. 1. p. 189. 
{^Asphodeli.) 
Corolla tubulous, ovate, summit 6-cleft, ru- 
gose, persistent. Stamina inserted upon 
the margin of the orifice. Style trique- 
trous, tripartile. Capsule semisuperior, 
3-celied, many-seeded. — »/V* att. 
