12 Podophyllum peltatum. 
consisting of three deciduous calix leaves (Fig. 8.) and from six to 
nine white petals, delicately reticulated with veins, and forming a 
concave flower. The pistil is somewhat urceolate, of a yellowish 
colour and crowned with a crenate stigma, much darker. The sta- 
mens are from thirteen to twenty, and of a yellow colour. The fruit 
varies much in size, according to the different situations in which 
the plant may have grown. Its usual size is that represented in the 
figure, or of a common plumb, but I have very frequently seen it 
twice as large, and it is often smaller. It is, when mature, of a le- 
mon-yellow colour, slightly maculated with round brownish dots, 
and is crowned with the persistent stigma. It consists internally of 
a delicate pulp, in which about a dozen seeds are immersed, attach- 
ed by umbilicate fibres to the receptacle, which is situated more to 
one side than the other. This fruit is extremely delicious to most 
persons, and to many quite apperient; it may be eaten in consi- 
derable quantities without any unpleasant effect, and being sub- 
acid and grateful, may be considered healthful. Schoepf says, the 
_ pigeons of Carolina are fattened by eating it. The seeds are about 
twelve in number, of the size and shape represented in the draw- 
ing, and of a light yellowish colour. | 
This plant is propagated so luxuriantly by the creeping of its 
roots, that but a small proportion of the flowers produce fruit; 
perhaps not more than one in forty or fifty; so that it is not un- 
common to find whole patches consisting of two or three hundred 
