498 Remarks on the Genera Callitriche and Elatine: 
tate. In C. autumnalis, it frequently happens that one or even 
two of these are abortive, and in this species the fruit seldom or 
never presents the uniform quadrangular appearance that exists in 
the other two. This peltate structure of the fruit has been in ge- 
neral very imperfectly noticed, and indeed in some bad figures the 
axis of the fruit is represented as long as the lobes, instead of be- 
ing remarkably short : in other figures the stigmas are represented 
as arising from the top of the fruit, instead of from the middle of 
the inner side at the apex of the short axis. ; 
On opening one of the portions of the fruit, I have not found the 
seed incorporated with it on all points, nor yet decidedly peltate. 
My observations chiefly confirm those of Richard, the seeds being 
attached at a point corresponding to the apex of the axis of the 
fruit, so that in the young state the ovulum must have been pen- 
dulous, or more strictly speaking suspended. In the ripe state also, 
they may be called by the same term, as by far the greater portion 
of the seed is below its point of attachment. Although, however, 
the ovulum and seed are suspended in the cell, yet the great mass 
of the ovulum, is in the younger state, situated at the base of the 
fruit, which might induce an incautious observer to suppose that 
the seed was really erect: this, however, is merely the chalaza and 
kernel, which, according to Mr. Brown’s accurate observations, 
have in all plants an opposite direction to those of the testa, or outer 
covering of the ovulum. 
In the ripe fruit the albumen is thin and fleshy, enveloping the 
embryo, and at first may be mistaken for a portion of the episperm. 
The embrye itself is cylindrical, occupying the whole length of the 
seed, slightly incurved and obtuse at each end: the radicle, as might 
be inferred from the situation of the kernel in the ovulum, is su- 
perior ; it occupies nearly the whole length of the embryo. The 
cotyledons are semi-cylindrical, closely applied, short, but very dis- 
tinct. If a plane were to pass through the curvature of the em- 
bryo, it would be at right angles to the cleft of the cotyledons, se 
that in botanical language the cotyledons are incumbent, or the ra- 
dicle dorsal. 
Such are the principal facts I have to notice regarding the fruit - 
of this genus. With respect to the flower, I can by no means agree 
with those who describe it as having two petals: what have been 
so called, only exist in C. verna, and I think their position is decid- 
edly against the idea of their being parts of the flower. In all the 
rspecies a peduncle is present, (the fruit being in no instance sessile, ) 
though this peduncle is usually so short that it is concealed by the 
lower portion of the fruit, and only visible when the lobes of the 
fruit are removed. Now, the situation of these supposed petals is 
not at the top of this peduncle, but at its base ; they are therefore 
more strictiy bracteas. There is neither a true calyx nor corolla, as 
far as I can perceive. What some have called styles, I have above 
termed stigmata, on account of the glandular or papillous appear- 
ance along one of their sides. This structure, existing in mercu- 
