STRUCTURE AND USES OF PLANT 13? 



The Victoria regia, a Brazilian species, has 

 peltate leaves of more than a yard in diameter. 

 Both the Nuphar lutea and the Victoria regia 

 can effect self-fertilisation. 



The fruit, which rests on the water, becoming 

 detached from its stalk and dehiscing from 

 the base upwards, effects the dissemination of 

 the seeds. 



The section of the petiole shows the stellate 

 hairs at intervals. Some are transparent and 

 difficult to see. 



The root-stocks bruised and infused in milk 

 are said to be destructive to cockroaches, and 

 when burnt to be particularly obnoxious to 

 crickets. The flowers are used by the Turks 

 in the preparation of cooling drinks, like 

 sherbet. 



The seeds, as they contain a quantity of 

 starch, are used in some countries as food. 

 The root-stalks and flower-stalks are traversed 

 by a great number of air canals, the arrange- 

 ment of which is the same in both organs. 



In the illustration (Fig. 41) the large open 

 ings are transverse sections of the largest inter- 



