355 
Aneilema, R. Br. 
Palisota, Rchb. 
Dichorizandra, Mik. 
Cartonema, R. Br. 
Rapatea, Aubl. 
Mnasium, Scbreb. 
Hagenbacbia, Nees. 
Pollia, Tbunb. 
Mayaca, Aubl. 
Syena, Scbreb. 
Bia^lia, Vandell. 
Alliance IV. ALISMALES. 
Essential Character. — Sepals usually herbaceous. Petals coloured. Carpels more 
or less distinct from each other. Albumen O- 
Order CCLII. BUTOMACE^. The Flowering Rush Tribe. 
BuTOMEiE, Richard in Mem. Mus. 1. 364. (1815) ; Lindley’s Synopsis, 271. (1829) ; DC. 
and Duby, 437. (1828) a § o/ Alismacese. 
Essential Character. — Sepals 3, usually herbaceous. Petals 3, coloured, petaloid. 
Stamens definite or indefinite, hypogynous. Ovaries superior, 3, 6, or more, either dis- 
tinct or united into a single mass ; stigmas the same number as the ovaries, simple. 
Follicles many-seeded, either distinct and rostrate, or united in a single mass. Seeds 
minute, very numerous, attached to the whole of the inner surface of the fruit; albumen 
none ; embryo with the same direction as the seed. — Aquatic plants. Leai'es very cellular, 
often yielding a milky juice, with parallel veins. Flowers in umbels, conspicuous, purple, 
or yellow. 
Affinities. Butomacese are readily known by the remarkable circum- 
stance of their placenta extending over the whole lining of the fruit, which 
is formed either of separate or concrete carpels. In this respect there is an 
evident analogy with Nymphseaceae, which Limnocharis resembles in the 
structure of its fruit. Butomaceae are most closely akin to Alismaceae. De 
Candolle has a remark (Si/st. 2, 42.), that no Endogens are lactescent; but 
Limnocharis yields milk in abundance. This genus offers a singular exam- 
ple of a large conspicuous open hole in the apex of its leaf, apparently 
destined by nature as an outlet for superfluous moisture, which is constantly 
distilling from it. * 
Geography. Natives of the marshes of Europe, and equinoctial 
America. 
Properties. Butomus is acrid. 
GENERA. 
Limnocharis, Bonpl, 
Hydrocleis, Rich. 
Butomus, L. 
Order CCLIII. ALISMACE^. The Water-Plantain Tribe. 
Alismaceae, R. Brown Prodr. 342. in part (1810); Rich, in Mem. Mus. 1. 365. (1815) ; 
Juss. Diet. Sc. Nat. 1. 217.(1822); Lindl. Synops. 253. (1829) .— AlismoideaE, 
DC. E/. Er. 3. 188. (1805). 
Essential Character — Sepals 3, herbaceous. Petals 3, petaloid. Stamens definite 
or indefinite. Ovaries superior, several, 1 -celled; ovules trect or ascending, solitary, or 2 
attached to the suture at a distance from each other. Styles and stigmas the same number 
as the ovaries. Fruit dry, not opening, 1- or 2-seeded. Seeds without albumen; embryo 
