"118 PRACTICAL BOTANY. 



^3. Petals numerous. Aquatics. Flowers solitary, 

 showy 24 



Petals 4, oblique, fugacious. Sepals 4, the 2 oiitei- 

 very broad and leaf -like. Low, rather shrubby plants. Styles 

 2, or 3-4. Ascyrum. 



34. Sepals 4, green outside, as long as the white petals, 

 which are arranged in many rows at the base of the ovary. 

 Stigma many-rayed. Leaves orbicular, or sometimes kidney- 

 shaped, cordate to the centre, floating. Flower fragrant. 



Nymphaea odorata, Ait. 



Sepals 4-6, of the same coloi- as, and larger than the 

 yellow j)eta]s, which arc arranged in 1 or 2 rows, and furrowed 

 at th" back. Stigma deeply umbilicate. Leaves oval or 

 oblong, sagittate-cordate, floating or erect. Nuphar. 



35. (8.) Pistils more than 1, distinct, or not firmly cohe- 

 rent 26 



Pistils many, completely coherent on an elongated 

 receptacle, forming a dry, or fleshy cone in fruit. Trees or 

 shrubs with large, showy flowers. Anthers linear 47 



36. Pistils several, separately half sunk into cavities of 

 the large, top-shaped receptacle, forming acorn-shaped nuts in 

 fruit. The numerous sepals and petals colored alike, in sev- 

 eral rows. Leaves orbicular, centrally peltate and cup- 

 shaped. Flowers solitary, very large, yellow, on upright 

 scapes. A huge aquatic. Nelumbiiun luteum, Willd, 



Pistils free, on the surface of the receptacle 27 



37. Leaves centrally peltate, large. Flowers small, dark 

 purple. Aquatics 264 



Leaves not peltate 28 



38. Herbs 29 



Small trees. Sepals 3. Petals 6. Stamens in a 



globular mass. Pistils 3-7, longer than the stamens. Fruits 

 oblong, torulous, about 3 inches long and 1 inch thick, pulpy, 

 often 3 together. Flowers dull purple, axillary, solitary. 



Asimina triloba, Dunal. 



30. Ovaries 1-ovuled, forming achenia in fruit 30 



Ovaries more than 1-ovuled. Fruit a follicle or a 

 1- to 2-seeded acine, or berry 38 



