OKDER VIII. NELUMBIACEJ^.. 217 



growing in the water, with floating, peltate leaves, the sub- 

 mersed leaves with filiform lobes. 



Genus I.— CABOM'BA. Aub. 6—2. (Nectris, Pureb.) 



Sepals 3, petaloid. Petals 3. Stamens 6, as long as the 

 calyx. Carpels numerous, 1 — 3-seeded, somewhat fleshy. 

 Leaves opposite. 



1. C. Carolinia'na, (Gray.) Stem branching. Leaves floating and 

 submersed, the floating ones elliptical or oblong, about an inch long, 

 submersed ones filiformly dissected. Petals oval, obtuse, with two yel- 

 low spots at the base. Sometimes only two sepals and 2 petals. — 

 White. U. May. From N. Car. to Lou. 



Genus II.— BRASE'NIA. Schr. 12—12. {Hydropeltis, Mich.) 



Sepals 3 — 4, persistent, petaloid. Petals 3 — 4, longer than 

 the sepals. Stamens numerous. Carpels numerous, somewhat 

 oblong, 1 — 2-seeded. All the submersed parts of the plant cov- 

 ered with a transparent, gelatinous substance. 



1. B. pelta'ta. (Pursh.) Stem long, slender, of a purplish color, no 

 part of the plant being green but the upper surface of the leaves. 

 Leaves alternate, the floating ones peltate, entire, elliptical. Peduncles 

 1-flowered, solitary. Grows in still water. — Brownish purple. If. 

 July. Canada to Geo. 1 — 10 feet. Water-shield. 



Order VIIL— NELUMBIA'CE.^. L. 12—12. 



Sepals 4 — 6, petaloid. Petals numerous from the outside of 

 the disk. Stamens numerous, in several rows ; filaments peta- 

 loid; anthers introrse. Disk remarkably developed, with the 

 ovaries lodged in separate cavities in its substance. Fruit a 

 nut, crowned with the persistent style. Seed orthotropous, 

 without albumen. Embryo very large, with two fleshy cotyle- 

 dons. Herbaceous plants growing in deep water. 



Genus I.— NELUM'BIUM. Juss. 12— 12. {Sacred Bean.) 

 (The name of an East Indian specie?.) 



1. N. lu'teum, (Wild.) Pedujicles arising from a rliizoma. Leaves 

 large, 1 — 2 feet in diameter, peltate, orbicular. Flowira large. — Pale 

 yellow. If. N. Y. to Lou. June. Water chinqut pin. 



This is one of the most splendid aquatic plants of North America. It yields a milky 

 juice when wounded. The root bears tubers, which are very farinaceous, and are used 

 as food bv the Indians. The flowers are the largest of any North American plant ex- 

 cept the Magnolia macrophylla. (NutLall.) 



Order IX.— NYMPH^A'CE.^E. Sal. ( Water-lily Family.) 



Sepals persistent, 4 — 5 — 6. Petals numerous, imbricate. 

 Stamens numerous in several rows, some of the filaments peta- 



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