OBDER 8. NELUMBIACE^S. 219 



obtuse, concave, caducous; petals 6 9, obovate, concave; stamens 

 9 18, with linear anthers; berry large, ovoid, 1 -celled, crowned with 

 the solitary stigma. U Low, rather poisonous herbs. Flowering stems, 

 2-leaved. Fl. solitary. 



P. peltatum L. "WILD MANDRAKE. In woods and fields, common in the Mid. and 

 "Western States, rare in N. Eng. S. to La. Height about If. It is among our 

 more curious and interesting plants. St. round, sheathed at base, dividing into 

 2 round petioles, between which is the flower. Lvs. broadly cordate, in 5 7 

 lobes, each lobe 6' long from the insertion of the petiole, 2-lobed and dentate at 

 apex. Barren stems with one centrally peltate leaf. FL pedunculate, drooping, 

 white, about 2' diam. Fr. ovoid oblong, large, yellowish ; with the flavor of the 

 strawberry. The root is cathartic. May. 



ORDER VII. CABOMBACEJ3. WATER SHIELDS. 



Herls aquatic, with the floating Ivs. entire, centrally peltate, the submersed ones 

 dissected. Fls. small, erect, one on each peduncle, hypogynous. Petals 3 4, 

 alternate with the 3 or 4 sepals which are colored inside, all persistent. Sta. twice, 

 or 4 or 6 times as many as the petals. Anthers adnate. Ova. 2 or more, distinct. 

 Stig. simple. Fr. indehiscent, tipped with the hardened style. Sds. globular, 

 pendulous. Embryo, minute, 2-lobed, external to an abundant, fleshy albumen. 



Genera 2, species 3. American water plants, extending from Cayenne, S America, N. to 

 N. Eng. Properties, slightly astringent. 



\. BRASfiNIA, Schreb. WATER TARGET. Calyx of 3 4 sepals, 

 colored within, persistent; corolla of 3 4 petals; stamens 12 24; 

 ovaries 6 18 ; carpels oblong, 2 (or by abortion l)-seeded. 2f Aquatic. 

 The stems and under surface of the leaves are covered with a viscid 

 jelly. Lvs. all floating, entire. 



B. peltata Ph. It inhabits muddy shores and pools, often in company with the 

 water lily, Can. to Ga. and Ark. Lvs. peltate, elliptical, entire, 2 3' by 1 1 ', 

 with the long, flexible petioles inserted exactly in the center, floating on the 

 surface of the water, smooth and shining above. Fls. arising to the surface, on 

 long, slender, axillary peduncles. Petals purple, about 3" long. Jl. (Hydro- 

 peltis purpurea MX.) 



2. CABOMBA, Aublet. Sepals 3, petaloid ; petals 3 ; stamens 6 ; 

 pistils 3 (rarely 2 or 4), nearly the length of stamens, and half as long 

 as the petals and sepals; carpels few-seeded. Lvs. opposite, mostly 

 submersed and filiformly dissected. 



C. Caroliniana Gray. In stagnant waters, K Car. to Ga and La. Stems 

 branched. Floating Ivs. small (6" long, 1" wide) and few, oblong-linear, cen- 

 trally peltate ; submersed Ivs. many, reniform in outline, 1 2' broad, repeatedly 

 di and tri-chotomous into threadlike segments. Ped. 2' long, 1-flowered. Fls. 

 white, 5 6" broad, strictly ^/, (sometimes </), with oval, obtuse petals yellow at 

 base. May. 



ORDER VIII. NELUMBIACEJE. WATER BEANS. 



Herbs aquatic, large, with prostrate rootstock and radical, peltate leaves, with 

 flowers large, solitary, on long, upright scapes, 4 5-sepaled; petals numerous, 

 arranged in many rows, as are also the stamens, ovaries separate, each with a simple 

 style and stigma, becoming in fruit 1 -seeded nuts half sunk in the hollows of tho 

 vary large torus, the seeds with largely developed embryo, and no albumen. 



