12 



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. 



Properties. 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 rea- 

 son they have been prescribed in dysentery. J^fter repeated washings they are 

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



Examples. Nympheea, Nuphar. 



VI. NELUMBONE.E. 



Nymhhjeaces, § Nelumboneae, Dec. Syst. 2. 43. (1821) ; Prodr. 1. 113. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous stamens, distinct 

 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 ; filaments petaloid ; anthers adnate, bursting inwards by a double longitudinal 

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

 ovaria, which are numerous, separate, monospermous, with a simple style and stigma. Nuts 

 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 Nymphceacese, with which they were 

 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 Nym- 

 pheeaeeae. 



Geography. Natives of stagnant or quiet waters in the temperate and tro- 

 pical regions of the northen 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. 



Ppoperties. Chiefly remarkable for the beauty of the flowers. The fruit 

 of Nelumbium speciosum is believed to have been the Egyptian bean of Py- 

 thagoras. 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. 



VII. HYDROPELTIDE.E. 



Cabombe/e, Rich. Anal. Fr. (1808,)— Podophyllace*, § Hydropeltidea, Dec. Syst. 2. 36. 

 (1821); Prodr. 1. 112.(1824.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous stamens, anthers 

 bursting by longitudinal slits, several distinct simple carpella, exstipulate float- 

 ing leaves not sheathing at the base, solid albumen, and seeds without arillus. 



Anomalies. None. 



Essential Character.— Sepals 3 or 4, coloured inside. Petals 3 or 4, alternate with the 

 sepals. Stamens definite or indefinite, hypogynous, arising from an obscure torus; anthers 



