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The fertile leaves confift of fewer joints than the barren, and fometimes
produce a few fecond leaves at the bafe o f the vaginæ.
B A R R E N L E A V E S ,
The barren leaf which is cut into three parts, in the plate. Fig. B,
rifes from the fame root as the fertile leaf, and confifts, when full grown,
o f twenty-fix or thirty joints, rifes to the height of three feet or more,
is o f a freih green colour, and fmooth furface, while young ; when dry,
becomes channelled, with twelve or fourteen furrows. The joints are
clofely emb.aced by the vaginæ, while the plant is fre ih; when dry, the
ftem is contraded, the vaginæ are lax, and fpread out at the margin.
The firft leaves are moft commonly fimple and naked, as at B ; but
fometimes one or two branches rife from the lower joints, as at C ; which
branches are of the fame ftrudure as the firft leaf or principal ftem.
The firft leaves alfo fometimes produce proper fecond leaves, D, from
the bafe of the upper vaginæ ; two or three of thefe at a joint, fometimes,
though rarely, fix or feven ; they are unequal in length, jointed,
pentangular, and the joints furrounded with a black qulnquidentate
vagina.
Grows in ihallow ponds and ftanding waters ; and flowers in May.