648 POLYANDRIA POLYGYNIA. Nelumbiiim. 



part ^\hich was the upper point before the leaf expand- 

 ed, where it is emarijinate with a point; the nerve that ter- 

 minates in this point is simple and straii^ht, all the other 

 nerves, fifteen or thirty in number, are twice or thrice two- 

 cleft ; al ove, the leaf is of a beautiful pea-green colour and 

 of a very soft velvet-like texture ; underneath is a cuticle 

 which is frequently of a turgid red, covering innumerable 

 small vescicles, these render the leaves specifically lighter 

 than water; the breadth of the leaves from twelve to 

 twenty-four inches, and the length, from the emarginated 

 point to the opposite margin, from nine to eighteen inch- 

 es. Petioles of various length, according to the depth 

 of the water, being always sufficiently long to admit of 

 the leaf floating; round, rigid, as thick as a rattan, or 

 thicker, armed with many small inoffensive prickles, 

 and perforated with four larger and many smaller pores. 

 Pff/i/wc/e* radical, one-flowered, of various length, round, 

 thicker than the petioles, rigid, frequently tinged red, 

 armed with small inoffensive prickles, and perforated 

 with from six to seven large and many small holes. In 

 the rose-coloured China variety, the prickles are sharper 

 and more numerous. Flowers large and beautiful beyond 

 description, particularly in the rose-coloured varieties, 

 nearly inodorous, about nine or ten inches in diameter 

 when expanded, they are then elevated a few inches 

 above the surface of the water. Calyx none. Corol ma- 

 ny-petalled (from fifteen to sixty ) the exterior ones small, 

 and coloured, green on the outside, the middle series 

 large, the interior lessening in size, all concave, ob- 

 long, with a minute point, lower part pale rose-coloured, 

 deepening toward the apex. Filaments numerous (from 

 two to three hundred) inserted in several series with- 

 in the petals, round the base of the receptacle and 

 about one half its length. Anthers linear, as long as 

 the filaments, which elevate their apices a little above 

 the surface of the receptacle, each crowned with a 



