62 " WATEK LELY TAMILY. 



§2. Sepals and petals numerous, in several rows and passing into each other. Sta- 

 mens many. Pistils several, each stniken in the obconical and nearly flat-topped 

 receptacle, the imbedded nut-like fruits appearing like seeds in separate open 

 cells. 



8. NELUMBO. Uiiper part of the receptacle enlarged into a top-shaped body, bearing a 

 dozen or more ovaries, each tipped \vith a flat stigma and separately immersed in as 

 many hollows. (Lessons, p. 113, Fig. 362.) In fruit these form l-seeded nuts, resem- 

 bling small acorns. The whole kernel of the seed is embryo, a pair of fleshy and fari- 

 naceous cotyledons inclosing a plumule of 2 or 3 rudimentary- green leaves. 



§3. Sepals 4-6. Petals and stamens numerous in many rows. Pistil 1, compound. 



4. NY.MPH.£A. Sepals 4, green outside. Petals numerous, many times 4, passing some- 



what gradually into the numerous stamens (Lessons, p. 84, Fig. 228) ; both organs 

 grow attached to the globular many-celled ovary, the former to its sides which they 

 cover, the latter borne on its depressed summit. Around a little knob at the top of 

 > the ovary the numerous stigmas radiate as in a poppy-head, ending in long and narrow 



incurved lobes. Fruit hke the ovary enlarged, still covered by the decaying persistent 

 bases of the petals ; numerous seeds cover the partitions. Ripe seeds each in an aril- 

 Ins, or bag, open at the top. (Lessons, p. 126, Fig. 418.) Embryo, like that of Xelumbo 

 on a very small scale, but inclosed in a bag, and at the end of the kernel, the rest of 

 which is mealy albumen. 



5. NLTPHAE. Sepals usually 6 or 5, partly green outside. Petals many small and thickish 



bodies inserted under the ovary along with the very numerous short stamens. Ovary 

 naked, truncate at the top, which is many-rayed by stigmas, fleshy in fruit ; the inter- 

 nal stiucture as in NjTnphsea, only there is no arillus to the seeds. 



1. CABOMBA. (Name aboriginal ?) 



C. Caroliniana, Gray. Flowers 6"-8" broad on long axillary stalks, 

 with yellow spots at base of petals. Ponds, S. 111. and S. 



2. BRASENIA, WATER SHIELD. (Name unexplained.) One species. 



B. peltita, Pursh. In still, rather deep water; stems rising to the 

 surface, slender ; leaves 2'-3' long, long-petioled ; flowers small, produced 

 all summer. 



3. NELUMBO. (The Ceylonese name for N. Indica.) 



N. Itltea, Pers. Yellow N. or Water Chinquapin. S. Conn, (in- 

 troduced by Indians perhaps) to Lake Ont. , Minn., E. Neb., and S. 

 Flower pale dull yellow, 5'-8' across ; anthers hook-tipped ; leaf and 

 flower-stalks sparsely warty roughened. The leaves are very large (1°- 

 2° across) and centrally peltate, with an ascending limb, and raised high out 

 of the, water. 



N. Indica, Pers. (or Nelcmbium speci6sum), False Lotus, Sacred 

 Beax of the Orient, now commonly cult., has pink flowers and blunt 

 anthers, and the high flower and leaf-stalks studded with prickly warts. 



4. NYMPHiBA, WATER LILY, POND LILY. (Dedicated to the 



water nymphs.) Long prostrate rootstocks, often as thick as one's 

 arm, send up floating leaves (rounded and with a narrow cleft nearly 

 or quite to the petiole) and large handsome flowers, produced all sum- 

 mer ; these close in the afternoon ; the fruit ripens under water. 



V (Miite-floioered ; native in N. States. 



N. odorsLta, Alt. Wuitk \V. Flower very sweet-scented, white, or 

 sometimes pinkish, rarely pink-red, variable in size. 2'-6' broad ; petals 

 obtase ; leaves 2'-9' broad ; seeds oblong ; rootstocks with few and per- 

 sistent branches. Common in still or slow water, especially E. 



