Nymphales.] NELUMBIACE^E. 415 



is used as food in China. Dr. Roxburgh relates that the tender shoots of the roots 

 (rootstock), between the joints, are eaten by the natives of India, either simply boiled 

 or in their cmTies. The seeds are eaten raw, roasted, or boiled. Nuttall states that 

 the tubers of Nelumbiura lutcum resemble those of the Sweet Potato, are as farinaceous 

 and agreeable when boiled, and are used for food by the American Indians. Endlicher 

 says that the milky viscid juice of the leaf-stalks and flower-stalks is employed as 

 a remedy against sickness and diarrhoea, and that the petals, which smell of Anise 

 flowers, are shghtly astringent and used like Rose flowers. Dr. Wight informs us that 

 the leaf and flower-stalks aljound in spiral vessels, which are carefully extracted in 

 India and fomied mto those wicks " which on great and solemn occasions are burnt in 

 the lamps of the Hindoos placed before the shrmes of their gods." Similar wicks are 

 prepared from some Nymphseas, but are not considered so sacred. 



GENUS. 



Nelumbium, Juss. 

 Nelumbo, Gaertn. 

 Cyamns, Salisb. 



Numbers. Gen. 1. Sp. 3, at least. 



Position. — Nymphseacese. — Nelumbiace.e. — Cabombaeete, 



