76 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 



I. NELUMBO, Tourn. 



Rootstock large and stout. Leaves round, shield-shaped, 

 often raised above the water. Flowers large, raised above 

 water at first, but often submerged after blooming. Sepals 

 and petals hypogynous, numerous, the inner sepals and outer 

 petals not distinguishable from each other. Stamens many, 

 hypogynous. Pistils several, 1-ovuled, borne in pits in the 

 flattish upper surface of a top-shaped receptacle, which en- 

 larges greatly in fruit. 



1. N. lutea, Pers. American Lotus. Water Chinquapin. 



Rootstock often 3-4 in. in diameter, horizontal. Leaves lj-2^ ft. 

 broad, prominently ribbed, with much bloom above, often downy 

 beneath. Petioles and peduncles stout. Flowers pale yellow, 5-9 

 in. broad. Sepals and petals falling quickly. Fruit top-shaped, 

 3-4 in. in diameter ; the seeds ^ in. in diameter. In ponds and 

 slow-running streams W., introduced from the Southwest.* 



n. NYMPH^A, Tourn. 



Rootstock horizontal, creeping extensively. Leaves float- 

 ing, entire, shield-shaped or heart-shaped. Flowers showy. 

 Sepals 4, green without, white within. Petals many, white, 

 becoming smaller towards the center. Stamens many, the 

 outer with broad and the inner with linear filaments. Ovary 

 many-celled, stigmas shield-shaped and radiating. Fruit berry- 

 like, many-seeded.* 



1. N. odorata. Ait. White Water-lily. Rootstock large, 

 branched but little. Leaves floating, entire, the notch narrow, and 

 basal lobes acute, green and smooth above, purple and downy 

 beneath. Petioles and peduncles slender. Flowers white, very 

 fragrant, opening in the morning, 3-5 in. broad. Fruit globose, 

 seeds enclosed in a membranaceous sac. In ponds and still water.* 



m. NUPHAR, Smith. 



Rootstock horizontal, thick, cylindrical. Leaves heart- 

 shaped, floating or erect. Flowers yellow. Sepals 4-6, 

 green on the outside, obovate, concave. Petals many, hypogy- 

 nous, the inner ones becoming small and stamen-like. Sta- 

 mens many, hypogynous. Ovary cylindrical, many-celled, 

 stigma disk-shaped. Fruit ovoid.* 



