558 



BOTANY. 



Nelumbium luteum, the Yellow Water Lily, or Water Chinquepin, 

 is common in the ponds and rivers of the Mississippi Valley and the 

 Southern States. Its nut-like fruits, which are imbedded in the large 

 top-shaped receptacle, are edible. (Figs. 548-9.) 



Fig. 548. Leaf, flower, and fruiting receptacle of Nelunibium luteum, % natural 

 size. From Le Maout and Decaisne. 



N. speciosum, the only other species of the genus, occurs in Southern 

 and Southeastern Asia. 



Nymphcea odorata and N. tuberosn are the well-known White Water 

 Lilies of the Eastern United States. N. ccerulea 

 and JW. Lotus are common on the Nile. 



Victoria regia, the Victoria Lily of the Ama- 

 zon Valley in South America, is remarkable for 

 the size of its leaves and flowers ; the former are 

 peltate, perfectly circular, and two metres or more 

 in diameter, and the slender petioles are often 

 three metres long; the flowers resemble those of 

 our White Water Lilies, and are twenty-five to 

 thirty centimetres in diameter ; upon first opening 

 they are pure white, but upon opening a second 

 time they are of a pink color. 



Order Berberidaceae. The Barberry Family. 

 Herbs and shrubs with alternate or radical leaves ; 

 flowers monoclinous or diclinous ; petals and sta- 



Fig. 549. Section of mens few ; carpels one to three, rarely more, 



the young receptacle distinct. Species about 100, mostly natives of cool 

 and carpels. 



climates. 



Berberis vulgaris, the Barberry of Europe (Figs. 550-3), is cultivated 

 as an ornamental shrub, as well as for its edible acid berries. The 

 flowers are interesting on account of their sensitive stamens, which 



