An Encyclopædia of Plants

Every plant then known to grow in Britain — native, cultivated or introduced — described, figured, named in Latin and English, with its history, its culture and its uses in the arts.

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Order Clxvii

COMMELINEÆ. 861 Alísma W.

Mostly inhabitants of marshy ground, in either hemisphere, but not known in Europe except in cultivation. America is their grand station. Many are insignificant creeping plants, especially the Commelínas; others, as the Pontederias are very handsome; and the Dichorizándras are exceedingly noble caulescent plants, with large thyrses of blue flowers: this color is the prevailing one of the order. 84 Callísia W. 88 Commelína B. P. 89 Aneiléma B. P. 90 Cartonéma R. Br. 730 Pontedéria W. 765 Tradescantia W. 766 Dichorizándra Vand.

ORDER CLXVIII.

JUNCEÆ.

Inconspicuous, rigid, worthless weeds, for the most part; Xýris and Phílydrum, which have pretty yellow flowers, if belonging to the order, being exceptions. They clothe barren ground in most parts of the world, and are the first approach to the formation of a regular perianthium, as we ascend in the scale of vegetation. Xerótes has the habit of a low palm. 86 Xýris L. 760 Júncus L. 761 Lúzula Dec. 839 Flagellária W. 2076 Xerótes R. Br. 17? Philýdrum R. Br.

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