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BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
GENUS I. 
THE WATER-PLANTAIN. (Alisma, Lin.) 
Lin. Sgst. HEXANDRIA HEXAGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Stamens six. Ovaries from six to twenty-five. Nuts distinct, generally one-seeded, deciduous, indebiscent, ( Lindley .) 
Description, &c.' —The species are all perennials, growing in the water, with white or purplish flowers, and 
as they have generally each six stamens and six styles, the genus is placed in the Linnaean class and order 
Hexandria Hexagynia. The name of Alisma signifies a dweller in the water. 
1-—THE GREATER WATER-PLANTAIN. (Alisma Plantago, Lin*) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 326 ; 2nd ed., t. 538. 
Specific Character, —Leaves ovate, acute. Capsules obtusely triangular. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —A tall-growing plant, with a branched stem; broad, strongly ribbed leaves, and pale 
purplish flowers, which appear in July. 
2.—STAR-FRUIT, OR THRUMWORT. (Alisma Damasonium, Lin.) 
Synonyme. —Actinocarpus Damasonium, Brown. 
Specific Character. —Leaves oblong ; lieart-sliaped at the base. Styles six. Capsules tapering. (Smith.) 
Description, &c.— A perennial plant, growing in ditches and shallow pools, and flowering in June and July. 
The flowers are white, with a small yellow spot at the base of each petal, and they are produced in umbels. 
The plant, however, presents the most striking appearance when in seed, as the capsules have a very singular and 
star-like appearance, like those of the Illicum anisatum , or Star Aniseed of the chemists’ shops. 
3.—THE LESSER WATER-PLANTAIN. (Alisma ranunculoides, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 326 ; 2nd ed., t. 538 ; and our fig. 1, in PI. 53. 
Specific Character. —Leaves linear-lanceolate. Capsules angular, acute, numerous, in a globular head. Stem none. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This is a marsh plant, growing in moist ground, on the bank of a piece of water rather 
than in the water itself. It closely resembles the Greater Water-Plantain in its flowers, but the stem is shorter ; 
the flowers, which are placed closer together, so as to form loose umbels, do not appear till August or September ; 
and the fruit is round. 
4.— THE FLOATING WATER-PLANTAIN. (Alisma natans, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 775 ; 2nd ed., t. 539 ; and our fig. 5, in PL 53. 
Specific Character. —Leaves elliptical, obtuse. Flower-stalks simple. Capsules striated. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This very pretty little plant is found in great abundance on the Alpine lakes of North 
Wales and Cumberland. It grows in clusters; long creeping runners proceeding from every plant, and each 
runner sending up leaves and a flower-shoot. The flowers are white, and larger than those of any other species 
of the genus; they open in July and August. 
THE CREEPING WATER-PLANTAIN. (A. repens, Smith.) 
This species, which is found on the margins of lakes in North Wales, has very small white flowers. 
