various West India islands. It would also appear to be sub- 
ject to many diversities of appearance, in conseguence of 
which it has received several different names. Linnaeus 
called it Mimosa plena, or the double Mimosa, because of the 
broad petal-like barren stamens which occur in the lower 
flowers of each head. Similar appearances occur in the 
genera Desmanthus and Dichrostachys, and justify Linnaeus 
in the name which he applied to it. 
The genus derived its name from the Portuguese Loureiro, 
who ventured to enlist the god of the ocean in the service of 
Botanical nomenclature. Among the circumstances by which 
it is known from neighbouring genera are its peculiar floating 
habit, its anthers tipped with a stalked gland, and its flat 
jointless stipitate pod with membranous valves. 
One of the species, Neptunia oleracea, yields a material 
very like the Rice paper of the Chinese, but coarse and infe- 
rior in quality to that beautiful substance. It is also said to 
be used by the Chinese in salads, its spongy floating stems 
being crisp and juicy: but Loureiro adds that it is not very 
digestible. : 
Being a native of the hottest part of the tropies, the 
gardeners who may wish to cultivate this plant will do well 
to bear in mind that the water in which it is planted should 
us at least 80° of temperature, or it cannot be expected to 
thrive. 
It seems to be a perennial. 
Pe kp 
