450 TcxnANDRiA MONOGYNiA. Trapa. 



pie underneath ; from three to four inches broad, and nearly as long. 

 — Tetioles villous, lengthening with the age of the leaves, towards the 

 iipex nuich smaller, this part contains many inflated vescicles, which 

 render the whole plant ver}- buoyant. — Stipules two pair, the superior 

 ones pimple, semi-lanceolate, and caducous, the inferior pair at first 

 simple and filiform ; but becoming ramous by age, peimanent. — Pt;- 

 duncles axillary, solitary, shorter than the petioles, one-flowerod, in- 

 curved until the blossoms begin to decay, after which they bend down 

 under die suriace of the \\atcr, where the fruit grows, and couics to 

 mnUui y.—Floii'ers pure while, expanding above the surface of the 

 water late in tie allernoon. — Ca/j/x four-leaved, in opposite pairs, 

 Kaflels lanceolate, villous, one of the pairs permanent.— Coro/ con- 

 tracicd;^e/a/5 four, couiracled into a tube at the base by the firmness 

 of the calyx, above nuich broader, and expanding ; margins much 

 curled.— iVec^a;;y cup-shaped, on the lop of the germ, round the 

 swelled base of ihe style, eight-grooved, with the margms minutely 

 lacerate, and curled. — Filaments four, incurved. Anthers oval, in- 

 cumbent. — Germ inferior, obconical, two-celled, w ilh one o\ uluin iii 

 cacii attached to the lop of the j)art!lion. — yut inferior, of a tuibi- 

 nate triaiigular shape, a hard ligneous texture, and a blackish brown 

 colour, armed with two, strong, straight, conic, barbed spines, fioni 

 the uppi';r angles ; elegantly embossed, one-celled, not opening, but 

 having a perforation in '1110 top fur the E/itbri/o to pass, which is 

 guarded with a circle of stiff converging bristles from its margin, 

 tbrmiug a conical roof over the aperture. See^ single, conform to 

 ^ the nut. hdegument single, of a slightly brown colour, thin,.but 

 rather tough, and adhtring firmly to tlie perisperra. — 'Periaperin 

 conform to the seed, while, and of a. firm cartilaginous texture. 

 Embrj/o in the apex of (he perisperm. 



Obs. This is evidently a species perfectly distinct fiom nutans, 

 and bicortiis. From the former it difJers in having only two horns, 

 and from the latter in the horns being straight, very sharp, and barbed. 



The nuts are sold in the markets when in season, their kerucio b«- 

 iax much esteemed bv the Hindoos. 



