Taxonomy Nymphaea caerulea. 143 



below, white on the lower third, pale blue above, pure sky-blue at apex, the blue and 

 white shading together insensibly, the latter predominating in two-thirds of length on 

 inner surface of petal. Petal of third (innermost) whorl linear-lanceolate, obtuse, blue 

 at apex; outer surface with white margins in lower three-fourths of length, the blue 

 continuing half way down the midline ; on inner surface, white prevails on lower five- 

 sevenths of length. Stamens 50 to "J2 sometimes appearing inserted without order, 

 sometimes indistinctly spiral, often in about 16 vertical ranks of 3 to 5 stamens each. 

 Outerm.~,t stamens with short and rather broad filaments and long acuminate anther 

 with two long, nearly parallel anther cells and proportionately long, acute, 3-angled ap- 

 pendage, one angle pointing inward ; blue at tip and half-way down, yellowish-white 

 below. Median stamen has short, broadly elliptic filament, very long parallel anther 

 cells, and short appendage; anther and filament bright yellow, only the appendage 

 blue. Innermost stamen bright yellow all over, short, stout ; anther broader and longer 

 than filament; no appendage. Ovary nearly hemispherical (e. g., 1.9 cm. in diameter 

 by 0.95 cm. high ; 0.4 cm. by 0.24 cm.). Carpels 14 to 21 ; styles short (0.3 cm. long by 

 0.08 cm. in diameter), fleshy, nearly erect, subacute, concave inward, all alike, pure 

 yellow, papillose up to about 0.08 cm. from apex, the papillose area ending roundly. 

 Stigma nearly flat, bending upward on the styles, yellow. Axile process rising ab- 

 ruptly from the stigma, broader than high (height: breadth = 1 : 1.5; = 0.24 cm. : 

 0.38 cm.) and somewhat conical in shape, with obtuse tip, of a whitish color. Fruit 

 large, round (4.5 to 6.4 cm. in diameter by 2.5 to 3.8 cm. high), truncate above, with 

 deep radiating fissures between the carpels, flattened or even excavated beneath around 

 the peduncle, of a pale green color, becoming translucent and brownish, crowned with 

 the hard, slightly enlarged styles, and surrounded by the sepals and outer 4 petals, all of 

 which are dark green and spotted as in the flower. The peduncle makes a large, rude 

 spiral turn, holding the fruit still erect but with its base nearly or quite resting on the 

 earth. Seed ellipsoidal, acuminate at the hilum, 0.17 cm. long by 0.12 cm. in diameter, 

 dull olive brown ; surface marked with about 14 interrupted longitudinal lines of minute 

 hairs ; raphe evident, not prominent. Aril longer than the seed. 



Germination may take place immediately on ripening, or the seeds will withstand 

 drying over winter. First leaf of seedling filiform, 1.6 to 1.9 cm. long. Second leaf 

 broadly elliptic on a petiole about 2.5 cm. long; blade about 1.27 cm. long by 0.6 cm. 

 wide. Third leaf broader and shorter. Fourth leaf deltoid-ovate with rounded angles 

 and apex, and truncate base; lamina 1.6 cm. long by 1.27 cm. wide at base; later leaves 

 finally deltoid-cordate, with rounded apex and angles, and rather deep sinus. First 

 floating leaves nearly orbicular, 2.5 to 3.8 cm. in diameter, entire ; sinus deep with 

 straight and touching margins ; under surface marked with irregular blackish spots. 



First leaves from tuber submerged, 2 or 3 on each shoot; the first one may have 

 a minutely denticulate margin, 1 cm. long by 0.3 cm. wide ; or, more commonly, the lam- 

 ina is entire, broadly deltoid, 3.2 cm. long by 3.2 cm. wide at base, with rounded 

 angles, and petiole 2.5 to 3.8 cm. long. A third one may be produced, of oval shape, 

 fissi cordate, with deep open sinus and rounded apex, 3.8 cm. long by 2.9 cm. wide. 

 First floating leaves from tuber like those of seedling, but larger ; perfectly entire. 



Leaf of mature plant very narrowly peltate (1:14 to 16, Casp. 1877), ovate- 

 orbicular to orbicular, 30 to 40 cm. in diameter (33 cm. long by 30.6 cm. wide), soft, 



