The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee

Part 75

Chapter 753,414 wordsPublic domain

Flowers monoecious, or often dioecious in n. 1 and 4, and polygamous in n. 7. Petals imbricated in the bud. Stamens indefinite, rarely few. Ovaries many, crowded in a spherical or somewhat triangular depressed head on a globular receptacle, in fruit forming flat membranaceous winged achenes.--Marsh or aquatic, mostly perennial, stoloniferous herbs, with milky juice and fibrous roots; the scapes sheathed at base by the bases of the long cellular petioles, of which the primary ones, and sometimes all, are flattened, nerved, and destitute of any proper blade (i.e. are phyllodia); when present the blade is arrow-shaped or lanceolate, nerved and with cross-veinlets as in Alisma. Flowers produced all summer, whorled in threes, with membranous bracts; the sterile above. (Name from _sagitta_, an arrow, from the prevalent form of the leaves.)

Sec. 1. SAGITTARIA proper. _Flowers monoecious, with the lower whorls pistillate, or dioecious; stamens few or numerous, covering the receptacle; sepals spreading or reflexed in fruit._

[*] _Filaments numerous, narrow, as long as or longer than the linear-oblong anthers; bracts 3, distinct; fruiting heads larger._

1. S. variabilis, Engelm. Scape (1/4--4 deg. high) angled, with one or more of the lower whorls fertile; leaves very various, almost always sagittate; bracts mostly pointed; pedicels of the fertile flowers at least half the length of the sterile ones; petals wholly white; filaments glabrous, nearly twice the length of the anthers; achenes obovate (about 1'' long), winged on both margins, with a long curved or usually horizontal beak 1/4--{1/3} its length. (S. sagittaefolia, _L._, var. variabilis, _M. Micheli._)--In water or wet places, very common; exceedingly variable in size and foliage, ordinarily with narrow halberd-shaped or sagittate leaves,--sometimes dioecious, with large, broad and obtuse leaves (var. OBTUSA), or monoecious, with large, broad and acute leaves (var. LATIFOLIA), or the narrow leaves with long and linear diverging lobes (var. ANGUSTIFOLIA), or with some leaves lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, others more or less sagittate (var. DIVERSIFOLIA), etc. Root propagating by stolons tuberiferous at the extremity.--The European species has the fertile pedicels only {1/3} or 1/4 the length of the sterile; claws of the petals purple-tinged; filaments not longer than the anthers; and achenes almost orbicular, very broadly winged and with a short straight beak.

Var. pubescens, Engelm. Upper part of petiole and scape and especially the orbicular-ovate obtuse bracts and sepals pubescent or woolly; beak of fruit horizontal.--N. J. and Penn. to Ga.

Var. (?) gracilis, Engelm. Lobes of the sagittate leaves very narrowly linear (1/2--2'' wide); achene narrowly cuneate-obovate (2'' long), the beak long, stout, and strongly recurved, the sides usually strongly 1--3-crested. (S. cristata, _Engelm._?)--Mass. to western N. Y.; Iowa.

2. S. lancifolia, L. Scape 2--5 deg. high, with several of the lower whorls fertile; leaves lanceolate or lance-oblong, rarely linear, all with a tapering base, thick or coriaceous (6--18' long and on a long and stout petiole, never sagittate), the nerves mostly arising from the very thick midrib; bracts ovate, acute or acuminate; pedicels slender, the fertile scarcely shorter than the sterile ones; filaments pubescent; achenes falcate, winged on the back, pointed with an incurved beak.--Swamps, Md. to Ky., Mo., and southward. (W. Ind.)

[*][*] _Filaments very short, with enlarged mostly glandular base; anthers ovate or short-oblong; fruiting heads small; bracts more or less connate; leaves very rarely sagittate._

3. S. heterophylla, Pursh. Scape weak (3'--2 deg. high), at length procumbent; leaves lanceolate or lance-oval, entire, or with one or two narrow basal sagittate appendages; _bracts roundish, obtuse_; flowers of the lowest whorl fertile and _almost sessile_; the sterile on long pedicels; filaments glandular-pubescent; _achenes narrowly obovate with a long erect beak_.--N. Eng to Fla., west to Minn. and Mo. Varies as to foliage, the leaves being broad (var. ELLIPTICA, Engelm.), or rigid and narrowly lanceolate with stout petioles (var. RIGIDA, Engelm.), or nearly linear (var. ANGUSTIFOLIA, Engelm.)

4. S. graminea, Michx. Scape 3'--2 deg. high; _phyllodia flat_, mostly _broadly linear, acuminate_; leaves ovate-lanceolate to linear, on long slender petioles, sometimes reduced to the petiole merely; bracts rather obtuse; whorls of flowers often few, all staminate or the lower fertile; _pedicels_ slender, _spreading_, nearly equal; _filaments 15--20, glandular-pubescent; achene small_ (1/2'' long), narrowly obovate, almost beakless, _winged on the back, flat and scarcely costate on the sides_.--N. Eng. to Minn., south to the Gulf; very variable.

5. S. teres, Watson. _Phyllodia terete, very acutely attenuate_ upward, 3--12' long, very rarely bearing a narrow blade; scape 1/2--11/2 deg. high; bracts connate at base; _pedicels_ in 1--3 whorls, all very _slender and spreading_, 1 or 2 fruiting, 1/2--1' long; filaments 12, dilated, pubescent; _achene_ obovate, 1'' _long, with an erect beak_, the margins and sides _crenately several-crested_.--In shallow water, S. New Eng. to N. J. (Hyannis, Mass., _Deane_; Wading River, L. I., _Miller_; barrens of N. J., _Torrey_.) Phyllodia usually very strongly nodose. (Addendum)--Sagittaria teres has been collected also at Brewster, Mass. (_Farlow_).

6. S. natans, Michx., var. lorata, Chapm. Usually dwarf; _leaves linear, strap-shaped, obtuse or acutish_, 1--6' long, equalling or shorter than the scape, very rarely with a narrow blade; pedicels in 1--3 whorls, only 1 or 2 fruiting, _stouter and recurved_; bracts connate or spathe-like; _filaments 6--8, glabrous; achene_ obovate, _short-beaked, 1'' long_, the margins and sides _crenately crested_. (S. pusilla, _Pursh._)--In mud or shallow water, near the coast; N. Y. to Fla.

Var. (?) gracillima, Watson. Scape and the almost or wholly bladeless leaves very slender and greatly elongated (2--4 deg. long, 1'' wide); pedicels all elongated, in usually distant whorls, the lower pistillate, slender and spreading; fruit unknown. (S. natans, _Engelm._ in Torr. Bull. ix. 4.)--In deep water of streams in E. Mass. (_Hitchings, Boott, C. E. Faxon_, etc.) Wholly submerged, only 1 or 2 flowers appearing at a time, floating on the surface. The fruit, maturing under water, has not yet been collected.

Sec. 2. LOPHIOCARPUS. _Fertile flowers perfect; stamens 9--15, at the base of the receptacle; sepals erect and embracing the fruit._

7. S. calycina, Engelm. Scape weak (3--9' high), at length mostly procumbent; usually only the lowest whorl fertile, with pedicels as long as those of the sterile flowers, recurved in fruit; bracts orbicular, obtuse or rarely pointed; filaments slightly rough, as long as the anthers; achenes obovate with a short horizontal style; leaves broadly halberd-shaped, obtuse or acutish, with wide spreading lobes, often wider than long, or lanceolate or sometimes reduced to linear phyllodia.--Maine to Del., west to Wisc., Mo., and Tex. Quite variable, several forms being enumerated, as var. SPONGIOSA, with spongy texture and bladeless submerged leaves, eastward; and westward, var. FLUITANS, with lance-linear floating leaves.

3. ECHINODORUS, Richard.

Flowers perfect. Petals imbricated in the bud. Stamens 6--21 or more. Ovaries several or many, imbricated in a head, forming thick and ribbed achenes in fruit, often beaked with a projecting persistent style.--Mostly annuals, with the habit of Sagittaria, the naked stems sparingly branched or simple, and the flowers on rather short pedicels, in whorls of 3--6 or more. Fl. summer and autumn. (Name from [Greek: e)chino/des], _prickly_, or from [Greek: e)chi~nos], and [Greek: doro/s] _a leathern bottle_, applied to the ovary, which is in most species armed with the persistent style, so as to form a sort of prickly head of fruit.)

1. E. parvulus, Engelm. Scapes 1--3' high; shoots often creeping and proliferous; _leaves lanceolate or spatulate, acute_ (1/2--11/2' long, including the petiole); umbel single, 2--8-flowered; pedicels reflexed in fruit; flower 3'' broad; _stamens 9; styles much shorter than the ovary; achenes beakless_, obtusely few-ribbed.--In mud, Mass. to Mich. and E. Minn., south to Fla. and Tex. (S. Am.)

2. E. rostratus, Engelm. _Scape erect_, 3'--2 deg. high, longer than the leaves; _leaves broadly ovate, cordate or truncate at base, obtuse_ (the blade 1--3' long); umbel proliferous, in a branched panicle; flower 5'' broad; _stamens 12; styles longer than the ovary; achenes beaked_, acutely many-ribbed.--Swamps and ditches, Ill. to Fla., Mo., and Tex.--A low form (var. LANCEOLATUS, Engelm.) has the leaves lanceolate with an acute base. Ill., Mo.

3. E. radicans, Engelm. _Stems or scape prostrate, creeping_ (2--4 deg. long), proliferous, bearing many whorls of flowers; leaves somewhat truncately broadly heart-shaped, obtuse (2--8' broad), long-petioled; flowers 6--9'' broad; _stamens about 21; styles shorter than the ovary; achenes short-beaked_, the keeled back denticulate.--Swamps, Ill. to N. C. and Fla., west to Mo. and Tex.

ORDER 126. NAIADACEAE. (PONDWEED FAMILY.)

_Marsh or mostly immersed aquatic herbs, with stems jointed and leafy or_ (in Triglochin) _naked and scape-like, leaves sheathing at base or stipulate, and flowers perfect or unisexual, often spathaceous, with perianth of 4 or 6 herbaceous distinct valvate segments, or membranous and tubular or cup-shaped, or none._ Stamens 1, 2, 4 or 6, with extrorse anthers. Ovaries 1--6, distinct or more or less coherent, 1-celled, usually 1-ovuled, in fruit follicular or capsular or an indehiscent berry or utricle.

SUBORDER I. Juncagineae. Marsh plants, with terete bladeless leaves; flowers perfect, spicate or racemose, with herbaceous 6- (rarely 3-) lobed perianth; carpels 3 or 6, more or less united, separating at maturity. Seeds anatropous; embryo straight.

1. Triglochin. Ovaries 3--6, united until maturity. Leaves radical. Flowers bractless, in a spike-like raceme terminating a jointless scape.

2. Scheuchzeria. Ovaries 3, nearly distinct, at length divergent. Flowers bracteate in a loose raceme upon a leafy stem.

SUBORDER II. Naiadeae. Immersed aquatics, with flat leaves; ovaries solitary or distinct, 1-ovuled.

[+] Flowers perfect, spiked or clustered; anthers 4 or 2, sessile; leaves alternate.

3. Potamogeton. Spike peduncled. Sepals 4, herbaceous. Anthers 4. Ovaries 4, sessile.

4. Ruppia. Flowers on an enclosed spadix, at length long-exserted, without perianth. Anther-cells 4, distinct. Ovaries 4, becoming stipitate.

[+][+] Flowers monoecious or dioecious, axillary, naked, monandrous; leaves opposite (alternate in n. 6).

5. Zannichellia. Monoecious. Pistils (2--5) from a cup-shaped involucre or sheath.

6. Zostera. Pistils and stamens alternate in 2 vertical rows on the inner side of a leaf-like enclosed spadix. Stigmas 2, linear. Stem creeping.

7. Naias. Dioecious; pistil solitary, naked. Stamen enclosed in a membranous spathe. Stems floating, with opposite or ternate leaves.

1. TRIGLOCHIN, L. ARROW-GRASS.

Sepals and petals nearly alike (greenish), ovate, concave, deciduous. Stamens 3--6; anthers oval, on very short filaments. Pistils united into a 3--6-celled compound ovary; stigmas sessile; ovules solitary. Capsule splitting when ripe into 3--6 carpels, which separate from a persistent central axis.--Perennials, with rush-like, fleshy leaves, below sheathing the base of the wand-like naked and jointless scape. Flowers small, in a spiked raceme, bractless. (Name composed of [Greek: trei s], _three_, and [Greek: glochi/n], _point_, from the three points of the ripe fruit in n. 1 when dehiscent.)

[*] _Fruit of 3 carpels._

1. T. palustris, L. Scape (6--18' high) and leaves slender; _sepals and stamens 6; fruit linear-club-shaped; carpels_ when ripe separating from below upward, leaving a triangular axis, _awl-pointed at base_.--Marshes, western N. Y. to Ill., Minn., and westward. Aug. (Eu., Asia, etc.)

2. T. striata, Ruiz & Pav. Scape (6--12' high) and leaves slender; flowers very small; _sepals and stamens 3; fruit globose-triangular_, or when dry 3-lobed. (T. triandra, _Michx._)--Sea-shore, Md. to Fla. (S. Am., etc.)

[*][*] _Fruit of 6 carpels (rarely 5)._

3. T. maritima, L. Scape (1--3 deg. high) and leaves thickish, fleshy; fruit ovate or oblong, acutish; carpels rounded at base and slightly grooved on the back, the edges acute.--Salt-marshes along the coast, Lab. to N. J., and in saline places in the interior across the continent. (Eu., Asia, etc.)

2. SCHEUCHZERIA, L.

Sepals and petals oblong, spreading, nearly alike (greenish-yellow), but the latter narrower, persistent. Stamens 6; anthers linear. Ovaries 3, globular, slightly united at base, 2--3 ovuled, bearing flat sessile stigmas, in fruit forming 3 diverging and inflated 1--2 seeded pods, opening along the inside.--A low bog-herb, with a creeping jointed rootstock, tapering into the ascending simple stem, which is zigzag, partly sheathed by the bases of the grass-like conduplicate leaves, and terminated by a loose raceme of a few flowers, with sheathing bracts; leaves tubular at the apex. (Named for _John_ and _John Jacob Scheuchzer_, distinguished Swiss botanists early in the 18th century.)

1. S. palustris, L.--Peat-bogs, N. Brunswick to N. J., westward across the continent. June. (Eu., Asia.)

3. POTAMOGETON, Tourn. PONDWEED.

Flowers perfect. Sepals 4, rounded, valvate in the bud. Stamens 4, opposite the sepals; anthers nearly sessile, 2-celled. Ovaries 4 (rarely only one), with an ascending campylotropous ovule; stigma sessile or on a short style. Fruit drupe-like when fresh, more or less compressed; endocarp (_nutlet_) crustaceous. Embryo hooked, annular, or cochleate, the radicular end pointing downward.--Herbs of fresh, or one in brackish, ponds and streams, with jointed mostly rooting stems, and 2-ranked leaves, which are usually alternate or imperfectly opposite; the submersed ones pellucid, the floating ones often dilated and of a firmer texture. Stipules membranous, more or less united and sheathing. Spikes sheathed by the stipules in the bud, mostly raised on a peduncle to the surface of the water. (An ancient name, composed of [Greek: potamo/s], _a river_, and [Greek: gei/ton], _a neighbor_, from the place of growth.)--By _fruit_, the full-grown fresh or macerated fruit is intended; by _nutlet_, that with the fleshy outer portion or epicarp removed. All except n. 19 flower in summer; the month mentioned indicates the time of ripening of the fruit.

Sec. 1. _Leaves of two sorts; floating ones more or less coriaceous, with a dilated petioled blade, different in form from the thinner submersed ones._

[*] _Submersed leaves reduced to narrowly grass-like or filiform sessile phyllodia._

[+] _Stems rather stout; stipules free; spikes all emersed, cylindrical and densely fruited; fruits fleshy and turgid, obliquely obovate._

1. P. natans, L. _Stem simple or sparingly branched_; floating leaves all long-petioled, elliptical or ovate, somewhat cordate at base, obtuse but with a blunt point, 21--29-nerved; upper submersed leaves lanceolate, early perishing, the lower (later in the season) very slender (3--7' long, barely 1'' wide); upper _stipules very long, acute; peduncle about the thickness of the stem_; spikes 1--2' long; sides of the turgid _nutlet with a small deep impression in the middle_; embryo coiled into an incomplete elliptical ring.--Ponds and ditches, N. Scotia to Va., westward across the continent. In deeper or flowing water the plant becomes more slender and often wholly submersed (var. PROLIXUS, _Koch_).--Aug., Sept. (Eu., Asia.)

2. P. Oakesianus, Robbins. Stem more slender, _much branched_; floating leaves smaller (1--11/2' long), ovate- or oblong-elliptical, obtuse, fewer-(17--23-) nerved; lowest submersed ones almost capillary (only 1/4--1/2'' wide), continuing through the flowering season; spikes shorter (3/4--1' long), on _peduncles much thicker than the stem_; fruit smaller and more acute; _sides of the turgid nutlet not at all impressed_; curvature of the embryo nearly circular, its apex directed to a point above its base.--Ponds, and especially pools and stagnant ditches, Mass. to N. J.; also Anticosti. Aug.

3. P. Pennsylvanicus, Cham. _Stems compressed_, often simple from the creeping rootstocks; floating leaves chiefly opposite (1--31/2' long), 11--17-nerved, oblong, tapering into a _short petiole_, the lower gradually narrowing and passing into the submersed ones, which are very numerous and approximate, 2-ranked, linear (2--5' long, and 1--21/2'' wide), 5--7-nerved, the lateral nerves slender and nearly marginal, the space within the inner nerves _coarsely cellular-reticulated; stipules very obtuse_; spikes numerous, about the length of the thickened peduncle; _fruit round-obovate_, flattish, 3-keeled when dry; _nutlet distinctly impressed on the sides_; curvature of the embryo transversely oval. (P. Claytonii, _Tuckerm._)--Still or flowing water, N. Brunswick to S. C., west to N. Ind. and Minn. July, Aug.

[+][+] _Like the preceding section, but all the parts small, slender and delicate, only the fertile plants producing floating leaves; spikes very small and few-flowered; propagated by autumn buds._

4. P. Vaseyi, Robbins. Very delicate; stem almost capillary; _floating leaves obovate_ (3--5'' long) and about the length of their filiform petioles, with 5 nerves deeply impressed beneath, cross-veins distinct; submersed leaves filiform-linear, very attenuate (1--2' long, {1/8}--1/4'' wide) and acute; _stipules_ not adnate, scarious, _long_, acute; spikes all emersed, few, interrupted-oblong, 3--5-flowered, on a thickish peduncle; fruit oblique, round-obovate ({2/3}'' long), compressed, slightly sharp-margined, tipped with a distinct recurved style, the sides impressed and face acute; upper portion of the embryo circularly incurved, its apex transverse to the fruit.--Canada and N. Eng.; also Ill. The fruiting form, with floating leaves, rare; the submerged form apparently much more abundant.

5. P. lateralis, Morong. Stem filiform, branching; _floating leaves elliptical_ (4--6'' long by 2'' wide), with 5--7 nerves deeply impressed beneath, tapering at base into a somewhat dilated petiole shorter than the blade; _submersed leaves linear_, acute (1--3' long by 1/4--1/2'' wide), 1--3-nerved, the mid-nerve with fine veins or cellular reticulations on each side, bi-glandular at base; _stipules short; peduncles with a very peculiar lateral appearance_, widely spreading at maturity, sometimes even recurved, often thicker than the stem; spikes often interrupted (2--4-flowered); fruit obliquely obovate (hardly 1'' long), the back much curved, with two fine grooves upon it; embryo oval in its curve, the apex nearly touching the base.--Mass. and Mich.; rare. Undeveloped specimens resemble P. pusillus.

[+][+][+] _Stems slender or filiform, much branched; floating leaves sometimes wanting; stipules adnate to the base of the leaf; spikes of two kinds, one emersed, cylindrical and many-flowered, on a club-shaped peduncle, the other submersed, globular and few-flowered; fruit flat, cochleate, with thin or scarcely any flesh and a thin nutlet; embryo spiral._

6. P. Spirillus, Tuckerm. Floating leaves oval to lance-oblong and lanceolate (the largest 10'' long, 4'' wide), usually obtuse, about equalling the _rather dilated petioles_, with 5--many nerves beneath deeply impressed; upper submersed leaves either with or without a lance-oblong or broad-linear proper blade; the numerous lower ones narrow-linear, tapering toward the obtuse apex (3/4--11/2' long, 1/4--{2/3}'' wide); stipules early lacerate; _submersed flowers usually solitary on very short erect peduncles; fruit_ with the back either _winged and with 4--5 distinct teeth or wingless and entire; embryo coiled 13/4 turns_.--Rivers, and even far up small streams, N. Eng. to Va., west to Mich. and Mo. June--Aug.--Stem less slender than in the next.

7. P. hybridus, Michx. Floating leaves oval to lance-oblong (the largest 10'' long, 6'' wide), often acute, longer than the _filiform petioles_, with about 5--7 nerves beneath deeply impressed; submersed leaves very numerous, almost setaceous (1--3' long, very rarely 1/2'' wide); stipules obtuse; emersed spikes 4--7'' long; _submersed_ spikes 1--4-flowered, their _peduncles_ (of their own length) _frequently recurved; fruit minute, about 8-toothed on the margin; embryo coiled 11/2 turns_.--Shallow stagnant waters, N. Brunswick to Fla., west to Mich., Mo., and N. Mex. June--Aug.

[*][*] _Submersed leaves lanceolate, rarely oval or linear, membranaceous; spikes dense, many-flowered, on stout peduncles._

8. P. rufescens, Schrad. Stem simple; floating leaves (often wanting) 2--5' long, rather thin, _wedge-oblanceolate, narrowed into a short petiole_, 11--17-nerved; _submersed leaves almost sessile_, lanceolate and lance-oblong, smooth on the margin, fewer-nerved; stipules broad, hyaline, obtuse, upper ones acuminate; spike 1--2' long, often somewhat compound; fruit obovate, lenticular, pitted when immature, with an acute margin and pointed with the rather long style; embryo incompletely annular.--In streams or ponds, N. Brunswick to N. J., west to Minn. and Tex. Aug., Sept. (Eu.)

9. P. fluitans, Roth. Stem often branching below; _floating leaves thinnish, lance-oblong or long-elliptical_, often acute, _long-petioled_, 17--23-nerved; _submersed leaves very long_ (3--12', by 2--12'' wide), _lanceolate and lance-linear_, 7--15-nerved, coarsely reticulated; peduncles somewhat thickened upward; fruit obliquely obovate, obscurely 3-keeled when fresh, and distinctly so when dry, the middle one winged above and sometimes with 3--5 shallow indentations; the rounded slightly curved face surmounted by the short style; nutlet with the sides scarcely impressed; upper part of the embryo circularly in-curved. (P. lonchites, _Tuckerm._)--In streams or rarely in ponds, N. Brunswick to N. J., west to Minn. and Iowa. Aug., Sept. (Eu.)

10. P. pulcher, Tuckerm. Stem simple, black-spotted; _leaves of three kinds_; floating ones becoming very large (41/2 by 31/2'), _roundish-ovate and cordate or ovate-oblong_, 25--37-nerved, _all alternate; upper submersed ones (3--5) usually lanceolate_, acute at base and very long-acuminate, 10--15-nerved, very thin, cellular each side of the midrib, undulate, short-petioled; _lowest_ (2--4 near the base of the stem) _thicker, plane, oval or oblong_ with a rounded base, or spatulate-oblong, on longer petioles; stipules rather short and obtuse; peduncles thicker than the stem; fruit with a rounded back and angular face, pointed, distinctly 3-keeled when fresh, sharply so when dry; nutlet with two deep dorsal furrows, and a sinus below the angle in front; sides flat; embryo circularly much incurved above.--Ponds, Vt. to Ga. and Mo. July, Aug.

11. P. amplifolius, Tuckerm. Stems simple, of very variable length; _floating leaves_ (sometimes wanting) large, _oblong or lance-ovate_, sometimes slightly cordate at base, abruptly acutish, 30--50-nerved, on _rather long petioles_; submersed leaves often very large (reaching 7' by 2'), lanceolate or oval, acute at each end, _usually much recurved, undulate_, mostly on short petioles; _stipules very long and tapering to a point_, soon becoming loose; peduncles thickened upward, in deep water much elongated; fruit very large (over 2'' long), rather obliquely obovate, 3-keeled, with a broad stout beak; nutlet slightly impressed on the sides; upper part of the embryo curved into a ring.--Ponds and rivers, N. Eng. to N. J., west to Minn. and Kan. Aug., Sept.