12 . 



referred by those who believe them to be Monocotyledonous. Taking Nehini- 

 bonetE for a transition order, they have some relation to AHsmaceae, the only 

 monocotyledonous order in which there is an indefinite number of carpella 

 in each flower, and to Hydrocharideas, with which they agree in the structure, 

 though not the vernation, of their leaves, and their habit. An analogy 

 of a similar nature with this last may be also traced between them and 

 Menyanthese. 



Geography. Floating plants, inhabiting the whole of the northern hemi- 

 sphere, occasionally met with at the southern point of Africa, but generally 

 rare in the southern hemisphere, and entirely unknown on the continent of 

 South America. 



Propertits. The whole of this order has the reputation of being anti- 

 aphrodisiac, sedative, and narcotic, — properties not very clearly made out, but 

 generally credited. Their stems are certainly bitter and astringent, for which 

 reason they have been prescribed in dysentery. After repeated washings, they 

 are capable of being used for food. Dec. — A. R. 



Examples. Nymphsea, Nuphar. 



VI. NELUMBONE^. 



NYJiPH^ACEiE, § Nelumbonefe, Dec. Syst. 2. 43. (1821); Prodr. 1. 113. (1824.) 



DiAG^^osis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous stamens, dis- 

 tinct simple carpella immersed in a fleshy dilated torus, and floating leaves. 

 Anomalies. None. 



Essential Character Sepals 4 or 5. Petals numerous, oblong-, in many rows, 



arising from without the base of the disk. Stamens numerous, arising from within the 

 petals, in several rows ; fihiments petaloid ; anthers adnate, l)ursting inwards by a double 

 longitudinal cleft. Disk fleshy, elevated, excessively enlarged, enclosing in hollows of its 

 substance the ovaria, which are numerous, separate, monospermous, with a simple style 

 and stigma. JViits numerous, half buried in the hollows of the disk, in which they are, 

 however, loose. Seeds solitary, or rarely 2; albumen none; embryo large, with two fleshy 

 cotyledons and a highly developed plumula, enclosed in its proper membrane. — Herbs, with 

 peltate fleshy leaves arising from a prostrate trunk, growing in quiet waters. 



Affinities. Closely related to Nymphf3eaceae, with which they are 

 usually united. They differ entirely in the structure of their fruit, but 

 agree in their foliage and flowers. The order consists of a single genus. 

 See Nymphseaccoe. 



Geography. Natives of stagnant or cjuiet waters in the temperate and 

 tropical regions of the northern hemisphere, both in the Old and the 

 New World ; most abundant in the East Indies. They were formerly 

 common in Egypt, but are now extinct in that country, according to 

 Delile. 



Properties. Chiefly remarkable for the l)eauty of the flowers. The 

 fruit of Nelumbium speciosum is believed to have been the Egyptian bean 

 of Pythagoras. The nuts of all the species are eatable and wholesome. 

 The root, or, more properly, the creeping stem, is used as food in China, 



Example. Nelumbium. 



