NTMPH^ACEiE. ( WATER-LILY FAMILY.) 17 



Synopsis. 



ScBORDEB I. CABOMBE,^. Caulescent, leafy. Flowers axillary, hypogynous. 

 Sepals and petals 3 - 4. Stamens 6 - 18. Ovaries 2-18. Ovules suspended from the 

 dorsal suture. Carpels distinct, 1 -3-seeded. Embryo at the base of Heshy albumen. 



1. CABOMBA. Stamens G. Submerged leaves finely dissected. 



2. BRASENIA. Stamens 12-18. Leaves entire, peltate, floating. 



SnBORDER 2. NEIiUMBONEiE. Stemless. Leaves floating. Flowers hypogynous. 

 Sepals and petals alike, deciduous. Stamens indefinite, the filaments prolonged 

 above the anthers. Ovaries 1-celled, 1-ovuled, embedded in the flat summit of the 

 large obconical receptacle. Seed suspended. Embryo large. Albimien none. 



3. NELUMBIUM. Characters of the Suborder. 



SuBOEDEB 3. NYMPH^ACE.^. Stemless. Leaves floating, cordate. Flowers 

 solitary. Sepals 3 - (J. Petals numerous. Stamens indefinite. Ovary many-celled, 

 the numerous ovules inserted on the partitions. Fruit iudehiscent, baccate. Seed 

 albuminous. 



4. NTMPH^A. Petals perigynous. Stigma radiate. 



5. NUPHAR. Petals hypogynous. Stigma peltate. 



1. CABOMBA, Aublet. 



Sepals and petals 3. Stameus 6. Ovaries 2-4. Carpels 1 -3-seeded. — 

 Stems filiform, brauching. Submerged leaves opposite, finely dissected, the 

 floating peltate, entire. Flowers small in the axils of the floating leaves. 



1. C. Caroliniana, Gray. Floating leaves small, linear-oblong ; flowers 

 long-peduncled, white. — Ponds and still water in the lower districts. July. 



2. BRASENIA, Schreber. Watek-shield. 



Sepals and petals, 3 - 4. Stamens 12-18. Ovaries 4-18. Carpels 1-2- 

 seeded. — Leaves alternate, peltate, entire. Flowers axillary, small. 



1. B. peltata, Pursh. Stem, petioles, and lower surface of the leaves 

 coated with a gelatinous exudation ; leaves 2' - 3' wide ; flowers dull purple. — 

 Still water. July. 



3. NELUMBIUM, Juss. Water-Chinquepin. 



Characters of the Suborder. 



1. N. luteum, Willd. Rhizoma thick, creeping; leaves 1°-U° wide, 

 centrally peltate, depressed in the centre, the petioles, like the peduncles, 

 more or less muricate ; flowers 5' - 8' wide, pale yellow ; appendage of the 

 anther linear. — Ponds and still water, chiefly in the lower districts. July. 



4. NYMPH^A, Tourn. Water-Lily. 



Sepals 4. Petals inserted on the ovary. Stamens inserted above the petals, 

 the outer ones petal-like. Stigmas as many as the cells of the ovary, linear, 

 incurved. Seed enclosed in a membranous aril. — Petioles and peduncles 

 long and mostly spiral. 



1. N. odorata, Ait. Rootstock long, creeping; leaves orbicular or 

 reniform ; 6'- 12' wide; flowers white, 2' -6' wide, more or less fragrant. — 

 Still water. May-Aug. 



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