[ H47 ] 



EURYALE FEROX. PRICKLY ElJRYALE. 



%'$H$ $$ »J,' ifr 4)M ♦. ♦ M » $ » 



C/o/i ^»rf Order. 



POLYANDRIA MoNOGYNIA, 



Generic Cbaracler. 



Cal. 4-phyllus, fuperus. Petala numerofa. Stigma feflile, 

 peltatum. Bacca coronata calyce, polyfperma. Semina nuca- 

 mentacea. Hort. Kew. 



Specific Cbaracler and Synonyms. 



EURYALE ferox. Salijbury in Ann. of Bet. v. 2. p. 74. llori. 



Kew. ed. alt. 3. 

 ANNESLEA Jpinafa. Bot. Repof. 618. 

 LIEN KIEN / Kiteou. Mem. fur les Cbinois, 3. p. 451. 



This curious plarrt is a native of the Eaft-Indies, and has 

 been cultivated in China, according to the pretenfions of the 

 Chinefe writers, more than a thouland years before the com- 

 mencement of the Chriftian era. The feeds which are involved 

 in an infipid pulp, fuppofed to be of a cooling quality, arc 

 farinaceous, and confidered as a wholfome food. 



The leaves, which float upon the furface of the water, 

 fometimes exceed three feet in diameter, and are covered on 

 both fides with fharp curved fpines. The under furface is of 

 a deep bluifh purple colour, curioufly fupported by fpongy 

 ribs, which rifing from the centre of the leaf, where the petiole 

 is inferted, are dichotomoufly branched over the whole. 

 Thefe ribs have confiderably more perpendicular thicknel* 

 than width, like the rafters of a houfe, and are covered with 

 fpines at firft foft but becoming hard with age. The leaf, while 

 in bud, is curioufly folded up, and enclofed in an involucre, 

 tvhich burfts as the leaf expands. 



Introduced 



