182 



FLORA OF JAMAICA 



Nymphoea 



Family XXIII. NYMPH^ACE^. 



Aquatic herbs with rhizome bearing peltate leaves and one- 

 flowered scapes. Flowers large and showy. Sepals usually 4. 

 Petals and stamens numerous, inserted on the receptacle, with 

 which the carpels are often united. Anthers dehiscing inwards ; 

 connective continuous with the filament and Sometimes produced. 

 Cai'pels numerous, free or united. Ovules pendulous. Seed.s 

 often with an aril, with or without perisperm and endosperm ; 

 cotyledons thick ; radicle very short. 



Species about 53, found all over the world. 



Leaves and flowers floating. Leaves cleft nearly to the 



centre 1. Nymphxa: 



Leaves and flowers raised above the water. Lea\{es not 



cleft , ; 2. Nelumbo. 



NYMPH^EA L. 



Leaves and flowers floating. Leaves cleft nearly to the 

 centre. Petals (passing gradually into stamens) and stamens in 



Fig. 73.— J^j/7npA«ea.a»nor<muOT Mart. 4 Zucc. 



A, Leaf X l-i. D> Anthers showing variation from the 



B, Unopened flower X i. innermost to the outermost x i. 



C, Flower X ♦. E, Ovary with scars of petals, and bearing 



the stales x «. 

 F, Ovai-y cut across X f. (After Cpnanl.) 



