Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/191

Myriophyllum.]

1. M. elatinoides, ''Gaud. in Ann. Sci. Nat.'' Ser. i. 5 (1825) 105.—Forming dense masses in still waters. Stems slender, 6 in. to 3 ft. long according to the depth of the water. Submerged leaves in whorls of 4:, rarely more, deeply pectinately pinnatifid, the segments capillary; the upper emerged or floral leaves in whorls of 4 or 3, sometimes opposite, much smaller, $1⁄5$–$1⁄3$ in. long, ovate or oblong to broadly lanceolate, sessile, obtuse, entire or the lower slightly toothed. Male flowers: Calyx-lobes very minute. Petals 4, oblong. Stamens 8. Females: Calyx-lobes and petals apparently wanting. Nuts 4, small, oblong, smooth.—''Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 63; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 66; Benth. Fl. Austral.'' ii. 487; Kirk, Students' Fl. 150.

2. M. intermedium, D.C. Prodr. iii. 69.—Very variable in habit: in lakes and rivers forming masses of floating stems 1–4 ft. long, with numerous submerged leaves; in wet ground sometimes only an inch or two high, with the leaves all linear and entire. Leaves in whorls of 3–8, usually 4–5; submerged leaves deeply and finely pectinately pinnatifid, segments capillary; upper emerged or floral leaves much smaller, ¼–½ in. long, lanceolate and inciso-pinnatifid to narrow-linear and quite entire. Male flowers: Calyx-lobes evident. Petals white. Stamens 8. Female flowers: Calx-lobes and petals apparently wanting. Nuts 4, very small, linear-oblong, usually minutely scabrid or almost echinate, rarely quite smooth.—M. variæfolium, ''Hook. f. in Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 289; Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 64; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 66; Benth. Fl. Austral.'' ii. 487; Kirk, Students Fl. 150. M. propinquum, ''A. Cunn. Precur.'' n. 532.

3. M. robustum. ''Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl.'' 67.—Stems stout, erect, branched at the base, 6 in. to 2 ft. high, rarely more. Leaves