190 BOTANY. 



There are three families, all represented within the United' 

 States. The first (Nelumbiece) has but a single species, the 

 yellow lotus or nelumbo (Nelumbo lutea), common in the 

 waters of the west and southwest, but rare eastward (Fig. 101, 

 F) . In this flower, the end of the flower axis is much enlarged, 

 looking like the rose of a watering-pot, and has the large, 

 separate carpels embedded in its upper surface. When ripe, 

 each forms a nut-like fruit which is edible. There are but 

 two species of Nelumbo known, the second one (JV. spedosa) 

 being a native of southeastern Asia, and probably found in 

 ancient times in Egypt, as it is represented frequently in the 

 pictures and carvings of the ancient Egyptians. It differs 

 mainly from our species in the color of its flowers which are 

 red instead of yellow. It has recently been introduced into 

 New Jersey where it has become well established in several 

 localities. 



The second family (Cabombece) is also represented at the 

 north by but one species, the water shield (Brasenia), not 

 uncommon in marshes. Its flowers are quite small, of a dull- 

 purple color, and the leaves oval in outline and centrally 

 peltate, i.e. the leaf stalk inserted in the centre. The whole 

 plant is covered with a transparent gelatinous coat. 



The third family (Nymphceacece) includes the common white 

 water-lilies (Castalia) and the yellow water-lilies (Nymphcea) 

 (Fig. 102, A). In the latter the petals are small and incon- 

 spicuous (Fig. 102, C,p), but the sepals are large and showy. 

 In this family the carpels, instead of being separate, are 

 united into a large compound pistil. The water-lilies reach 

 their greatest perfection in the tropics, where they attain an 

 enormous size, the white, blue, or red flowers of some species 

 being thirty centimetres or more in diameter, and the leaves 

 of the great Victoria regia of the Amazon reaching two metres 

 or more in width. 



The third order of the Aphanocydce (Rhceadince or Oruci- 

 florce) comprises a number of common plants, principally 



