Nymphaa.] flora indica. 239 



carpels is a well known one, to which we only call attention as indicating an affinity 

 with Berberidea through Podophyllum, with Lardlzabalece through EollboUia and 

 all the typical genera of that Order, and with Papaveracea through Papaver itself, 

 which has broad placentas, and especially through the Mexican genus Romneya, the 

 ovules of which are distributed over the whole cavity of the ovary. In Cabombea 

 the ovules are few, and confined to the dorsal suture of the carpels; and these are 

 free, indicating an affinity to Nelumbiacece on the one hand and Platystemon on the 

 other, a genus of Papaveracece with two free carpels. 



The seeds of Nympkaacea are sometimes arillate, when the arillus forms an elon- 

 gated fleshy cup, arising from towards the base of the funiculus and completely enve- 

 loping the'seed. In most species the seeds are completely imbedded in a cellular pulp 

 derived from the walls of the carpels and placental surfaces, affording a strong ana- 

 logy to the pulp of Lardizabalete and Podophyllum. The fact of the embryo being 

 enclosed in the amniotic sac is well known to be common to this Order, aud to some 

 very far removed from it, as Piperacece and Saururea ; but we have indicated a very 

 analogous structure in Monimiacece, and we would further call attention to the strong 

 resemblance between the canal in the axis of the farinaceous albumen of Nymphaa- 

 cece and the cellular mass occupying the axis of the fleshy albumen of Uortonia 

 and Boldoa. The relation of these to the amniotic sac is not made out, but we may 

 remark that they are certainly part of the nucleary sac of the ovule, and that in Uor- 

 tonia bat little albumen is developed in that part, which remains cellular in the 

 ripe seed, whilst in Nymphaa, owing to the cellular tissue itself being absorbed an 

 open canal remains. The fact of the embryo lying in a cavity at the apex of the albu- 

 men, and not immersed in it, is repeated in Leontice and Bonyardia, genera ot Ber- 

 beridea, where we have further indicated the sheath of the radicle as an important 

 modification of embryo-coverings, and requiring explanation. 



Other peculiarities of Nymphvace*, indicating their atlimty, are thztCabomte* 

 differ little from the ternary- sepaled Ranunculi, except m the insertion etc , ot tneir 

 ovules and their amniotic sac, and that they closely imitate in habit the l^nunadi 

 of the Batmchium section. The great disc of Nymph** is represented by that of 

 Patonia, as indicated by De Candolle. In form the stigmata strongly resemble those 

 of Papaver, as do the seeds to a great extent. The whorl of carpels ot N t ,p**a fur- 

 ther resembles in some degree that of Ilhcium and Utlleniaio which may be added 

 that Trecul describes the carpels of Nuphar as exhibiting a tendency to a dorsal de- 



^have thus a multitude of most important structural land physiological cha- 



tural 



alii 



Suborder I. Nymph^ile. 



Ovula 



Stamina plurima. Carpella in ovarium pluriloculare concreta. 

 plurima, parietibus ovarii undique aftixa. 



1. NYMPHiEA, L. 



Sepala 4, imo toro inserta. Petala 12-20, 2-4-seriata. Stamina 40- 



^ - . « rt i_ _ i „i,«,«n4iiMic cocci hhiK hnpn- 



tigmatibus 



60, multiseriata. - . - Q , 



ribus radiatis. Bacca spongiosa, irregidanter rupta. ban m m 



nidulantia, arillo sacciformi apice aperto mduta ; testa conacea. 



To any one who has studied a numerous suite of specimens of the Indian species 

 of this beautiful genus, and the published descriptions of hem, it will not be a matter 

 of surprise that we find it necessary to uuite a considerable number. 



