216 Class XIII. Order L 



wedge-shaped, two parted and toothed at the extremity. Oa 

 the inside the leaf is cleft almost to the petiole. In barren stems 

 which support but one leaf this does not take place, and the leaf 

 is very perfectly peltate. In the fork of the stem is a solitary 

 flower on a round, nodding peduncle one or two inches long. 

 Calyx of three oval, obtusp, concave leaves, cohering in the bud 

 by their scarious margins, and breaking off at base when the 

 flower expands. Petals from six to nine. Linnaeus makes them 

 nine in his generic character, but in this climate I have found 

 them more frequently seven even in luxuriant specimens grow- 

 ing in very rich soil. They are obovate, obtuse, concave, 

 smooth, white, with slight transparent veins. Stamens shorter 

 than the petals, curving upwards ; anthers oblong, twice as long 

 as their filaments. Germ oval, compressed, obscurely angular. 

 Stigma nearly sessile, convex, its surface rendered irregular by 

 numerous convolutions and folds. The flower is succeeded by 

 a large acid, ovate, yellowish fruit, which is one celled, many 

 seeded and crowned with the stigma. Its early period of ripen- 

 ing has given it the trivial name of May Apple. The root is 

 medicinal, answering as a substitute for jalap. It is found native 

 at Medway, twenty five miles from Boston. May. Perennial. 



220. NUPHAR. 



NUPHAR ADVENA. Mt. Yellow Water Lily. 



Calyx six leaved ; petals numerous ; capsule fur- 

 rowed ; stigma crenate ; leaves heart shaped, the lobes 

 divaricate. 



Syn. NTMPHAEA ADVENA. Ait. Kew. 1st Edit. 



This plant is usually considered distinct from the Nuphar 

 tutea of Europe, though there is still some confusion in the dis- 

 criminating marks laid down by authors. The present species 

 certainly partakes the character of both. Are they in reality 

 more than varieties ? 



Roots very large, creeping and irregular, like those of Nym- 

 phaea. Leaves oblong-heart shaped with rounded lobes, polished 

 on the upper surface, always floating in deep water, and erect in 

 shallow. Petioles exactly semicylindrical. Scapes round, spongy, 

 made up of equal longitudinal tubes, which are hairy within, at 



