ALISMA, or THUMWORT, a genus of the polyginia order, belonging to the hexandria class of plants. Of this genus, Linnæus enumerates seven species, viz. the plantago, or great water-plantain, which grows in all the marshy parts of this country; the ranunculoides, or lesser water-plantain; the natans, or creeping water-plantain; the desmazonium, or star-headed water-plantain; all which
* See Mort-
main.
* See
Pharmacy,
No 438, 2.
† N. —, b.
* See Law,
Part III.
No clx. 13.
are natives of Britain. The others, viz. the flava, cordifolia, and subulata, are natives of America, where they are generally found in stagnating waters, and other swampy places; so that it would be difficult to preserve them in Britain, for they will not live in the open air, and require a bog to make them thrive: but as they are plants of no great beauty or use, it is not worth while to cultivate them in this country.