* 



IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 197 



the Sweet Potato and are starchy ; the seeds are of particularly 

 pleasant taste. The plants would be of great value as orna- 

 mental aquatics. The leaves of N. lutea are from 1 to 2 

 feet in diameter. The flowers measure 4 to 1 foot across. 

 The capsular fruit contains from twenty to forty nut-like 

 seeds. The plant in congenial spots displaces nearly all other 

 water vegetation by the vigour of its growth. 



Nelumbo nucifera, Gaertner.* (NelumUum speciosum, Willde- 

 now.) 



The Pythagorean Bean. Egypt ; on the Caspian and Aral Seas 

 (46 N.) ; Persia ; through India, where in Cashmere it occurs 

 at an elevation of 5,000 feet ; China ; Japan ; Amur (46 N.) ; 

 tropical Australia as far south as 23. The occurrence of this 

 grand plant at the Ima, at Pekin, and at Astrachan proves 

 sufficiently that we can naturalise it in moderately cool climes, 

 as has been done already by Marquis Ginoi at Doccia near 

 Florence. The Nelumbo requires deep water with a muddy 

 bottom. The large white or rosy flowers are very fragrant. 

 The seeds retain their vitality for several years. According to 

 the ancient Egyptian method, they are placed in balls of muddy 

 clay and chaff, and then sunk into the water. 



Nepeta Glechoma, Bentham. (Gleckoma hederacea, Linne.) 



Europe, West Asia. The Ground Ivy. Still held in great 

 estimation as a pectoral medicine in some parts of Britain (G. 

 W. Johnson). 



Nephelium lappaceum, Linne. 



India. This tree furnishes the Rambutan or Rampostan fruit, 

 similar to the Litchi and Longan fruit. As one species of 

 Nephelium is indigenous as far south as Gippsland (Victoria), 

 and as all the species seem to require rather a moist, mild forest 

 clime, than great atmospheric heat, we may hope to bring this 

 tree also in favourable spots of a temperate climate to perfect 

 bearing. 



Nephelium Litchi, Cambessedes. 



South China, Cochin-China, and Philippine Islands. An ever- 

 green tree, producing the Litchi fruit. The pulpy arillus is of 

 extremely pleasant taste, though not large. 



Nephelium Longanum, Cambessedes. 



India and Southern China. The Longan fruit is obtained 

 from this tree ; it is smaller than that of the Litchi tree. 



