Nyinphcea.'\ Nyiuph(race(F. 4^ 



range it is a very variable shrub, and some of the more showy varieties 

 are in culti\-ation in Europe under different names. 



The stamens are irritable, and bend over the stigma if touched at the 

 base. 



Wood yellow, hard. The root-bark of this species is much used in 

 India as a bitter tonic in fevers, and an extract from the wood is there 

 well known as ' Rasout,' and is found a valuable local application in 

 chronic ophthalmia. 



VII.— NYMPH^ACE^. 



Aquatic herbs ; 1. large, simple, peltate, usually floating \ 

 sep. 4-5, distinct ; pet. numerous, in several rows ; stam. very- 

 numerous, distinct; carp, numerous, either distinct in distant 

 pits in the recept., or confluent with the recept. to form a 

 many-celled ov. ; ovules 1-2 or very numerous; fruit either 

 distinct 1 -seeded nuts or a spongy berry ; seeds either with 

 or without endosperm. 



Leaves and fl. floating. Carpels confluent, ovules 



numerous. Seeds with endosperm (A^;;/;?^^!^,?^) i. Nymph^EA. 



Leaves and fl. elevated above the water. Carpels 

 distinct, ovules 1-2. Seeds without endosperm 

 {Nelumbiece) 2. Nelumbium. 



The differences between the two genera are sufficient to constitute 

 separate Natural Orders. 



I. NVBIPKHIA, L. 



Aquatic herbs ; 1. and fl. floating ; sep. 4, petaloid ; pet. 

 numerous, in many rows, passing gradually into stam. ; stam. 

 numerous, fil. broad, the outer petaloid, anth. adnate, linear, 

 introse ; carp, numerous, sunk in and confluent with the 

 fleshy receptacle to form a many-celled ovary, ovules very 

 numerous ; stigmas sessile, connate, radiating ; fruit a soft, 

 spongy berry, bursting irregularly, with very numerous seeds 

 on the walls of the cells ; seeds small, with endosperm,, 

 enveloped in a large aril. — Sp. 20; 4 in Fl. B. hid. 



Stam. without an appendage beyond the anther. 



Fl. white or rose r. N. LOTUS. 



Stam. with a tongue-shaped appendage beyond the 



anth. Fls. white or blue 2. N. STELLATA. 



I. N. Iiotus,* L. Sp. PI. i. 511 (1753) Olu, Et-olu, S. 



* The Egyptian Lotus of the earlier botanical writers, and apparently 

 also of Herodotus and other classical authors. 



E 



