16 THE BARBERRY FAMILY. [Berberis. 



wards into Scandinavia, but has been so frequently planted that the 

 real limits of its area cannot be ascertained. Scattered over Britain, 

 but probably not really indigenous. Fl. spring or early summer. 



III. NYMPH^ACE^E. THE WATERLILY FAMILY. 



Aquatic herbs, with a submerged rootstock, orbicular or 

 peltate floating leaves, and large solitary flowers. Sepals few. 

 Petals numerous, in several rows, passing gradually into the 

 stamens, which are also very numerous, their anthers adnate. 

 Carpels numerous, but either imbedded into the receptacle, or 

 combined together so as to form a single ovary with many cells, 

 each with a sessile stigma. Seeds albuminous, in the British 

 genera, with a very small embryo. 



Waterlilies, although not numerous in species, are to be found float- 

 ing on shallow, still, or, gently running waters in almost all parts of the 

 world. They form an exceedingly natural group, of which several are in 

 cultivation in our hothouses, including the gigantic Victoria, from 

 tropical America, and the elegant Nelumbo, from tropical Asia. 



Sepals greenish outside, about the size of the outer (white) petals . 1. 



Sepals yellow, concealing the much smaller (yellow) petals 2. NUPHAR. 



I. NYMPELffiA. NYMPH^A. 



Sepals about 4, like the outer petals, but greenish outside. Carpels 

 numerous, imbedded in the thick receptacle so as to form as many 

 cells, radiating from a common centre, whilst the petals and stamens 

 are attached to the outside of the receptacle, nearly as high as the top 

 of the cells. Stigmas as many as the cells, radiating on the surface of 

 the ovary, each one extended into an erect, incurved, linear appendage, 

 whilst the centre of the flower is occupied by the small conical summit 

 of the receptacle. Fruit slightly pulpy, indehiscent. 



This genus, generally spread over the globe, includes the greater 

 number of the species of the Order, with white, blue, or red flowers. 



1. N. alba, Linn. (fig. 34). White Waterltty. Leaves deeply cordate, 

 glabrous, usually about 6 or 8 inches in diameter. Flowers lying on the 

 surface of the water, white, scentless, usually 3 to 4 inches in diameter. 



In lakes or still waters, and slow rivers, extending all over Europe 

 and northern and central Asia, although absent from particular localities. 

 Generally distributed in Britain. Fl. summer. Smaller flowered states 

 occur, and several varieties have been distinguished by minute but un- 

 certain characters in the forms of the anthers and stigmatic appendages. 



II. NUPHAR. NUPHAR. 



Sepals about 5 or 6, concave, yellow, much larger than the outer 

 petals. Carpels numerous, and radiating as in Nymphcea, but united 

 into an ovary, raised on the top of the receptacle, and not imbedded in 

 it. Stigmas as many as the cells, their appendages united into a flat 

 disk upon which the stigmas themselves radiate. 



