442 NELUMBIACE. 
inserted upon it the petals and stamens (fig. 522). Carpels 
numerous, united so as to form a compound ovary (fig. 869) ; 
ovary many-celled (fig. 790) ; styles absent ; stigmas radiating on 
the top (figs. 522 and 881), and alternate with the dissepiments. 
Fruitindehiscent, many-celled. Seedsnumerous, attached all over 
the spongy dissepiments; embryo minute, enclosed ina separate sac 
or vitellus, and on the outside of farinaceous albumen ( fig. 882). 
Diagnosis.—Aquatic perennial herbs with cordate or peltate 
usually floating leaves. Thalamus large, and forming a disk- 
like expansion more or less surrounding the ovary, and having 
inserted upon it the petals and stamens. Sepals inferior, per- 
sistent ; petals numerous; stamens numerous, with petaloid 
tilaments and adnate anthers ; carpels united so as to form a 
compound many-celled ovary ; stigmas radiating on the top, and 
alternate with the dissepiments ; ovules numerous, and attached 
all over the dissepiments. Embryo minute, on the outside of 
farinaceous albumen, enclosed in a vitellus. 
Distribution and Numbers.—The plants of this order are 
chiefly found in quiet waters, throughout the whole of the 
northern hemisphere ; they are, generally speaking, rare in 
the southern hemisphere. Illustrative Genera :—Victoria, Lindl. ; 
Nymphea, Linn. There are about 40 species. 
Properties and Uses.—These plants have bitter and astringent 
properties. They have been also considered as sedative and 
narcotic ; but there does not appear to be any foundation for 
such an opinion. Many contain a large quantity of starch both 
in their rhizomes and seeds ; hence, such parts are used for food 
in some countries. 
Victoria Regia.—This plant is a native of Equatorial America, and has 
been introduced into this country, where it has excited much interest, both on 
account of the beauty and size of its flowers, and its enormous and singularly 
constructed leaves. The flowers when fully expanded are more than a foot 
in diameter; and the leaves, which are turned up at their margins, vary _ 
from four to eight feet in diameter. The plant is commonly known in this 
country as the Victoria Water-lily, and in South America under the name 
of Water-maize, as the seeds are there used for food, for which purpose they 
are commonly roasted with Maize or Indian Corn, The rhizomes also con- 
tain a large quantity of starch. 
Order 12. NELUMBIACE, the Water-bean Order.—C harac- 
ter.—Aquatic herbs. Leaves peltate, rising above the water. 
Flowers large and showy. Sepals 4 or 5. Petals numerous, in 
several whorls. Stamens numerous, in several whorls; jila- 
ments petaloid. Thalamus very large (fig. 654, thal), flattened 
at the top, and excavated so as to present a number of cavities, 
each of which contains a single carpel (fig. 654, carp). Fruit 
consisting of the ripened nut-like carpels, which are half-buried 
in the cavities of the thalamus. Seed solitary, or rarely 2; with- 
out albumen; embryo large, enclosed in a membrane, with two 
fleshy cotyledons, and a much-developed plumule. This order, 
