54 BERBERIDACE^E. (BARBERRY FAMILY.) 



2-leaved, 1 -flowered. (Name from irovs, a foot, and $v\\ov, a leaf, probably 

 referring to the stout petioles.) 



1. P. pelt&tum, L. Stamens 12-18; leaves 5 - 9-parted, the lobes ob- 

 long, rather wedge-shaped, somewhat lobed and toothed at the apex. Rich 

 woods, common. May. Flowerless stems terminated by a large round 7-9- 

 lobed leaf, peltate in the middle like an umbrella. Flowering stems bearing 

 two one-sided leaves, with the stalk fixed near their inner edge ; the nodding 

 white flower from the fork nearly 2' broad. Fruit ovoid, 1-2' long, ripe in 

 July, sweet and slightly acid, edible. The leaves and roots are drastic and 

 poisonous ! Found occasionally with from 2 to 6 carpels ! 



ORDER 6. NYMPH^EXCEJE. (WATER-LILY FAMILY.) 



Aquatic perennial herbs, with horizontal rootstocks and peltate or some- 

 times only cordate leaves floating or emersed ; the ovules borne on the sides 

 or back (or when solitary hanging from the summit) of the cells, not on the 

 ventral suture ; the embryo enclosed in a little bag at the end of the albu- 

 men next the hilum, except in Nelumbium, which has no albumen. Rad- 

 icle hardly any ; cotyledons thick and fleshy, enclosing a well-developed 

 plumule. Flowers axillary, solitary. Vernation involute. Rootstocks 

 apparently endogenous. The few genera differ so much in the flower 

 and fruit that they are separated into the three following suborders. 



SUBORDER I. Cabtfrmbese. Sepals and petals each 3 or sometimes 

 4, hypogynous and persistent. Stamens definite (3-18). Pistils 2-18, 

 free and distinct, coriaceous and indehiscent, 1-3-seeded on the dorsal 

 suture. Stems slender, leafy, coated with mucilage. Flowers small. 



1. Cabomba. Stamens 3-4. Carpels 2-3. Submersed leaves capillary-multifid. 



2. Brasenia. Stamens 12-18. Carpels 4 -18. Leaves all peltate. 



SUBORDER II. NelUmbOiiese. Sepals and petals numerous in 

 several rows, passing gradually into each other, and with the indefinitely 

 numerous stamens hypogynous and deciduous. Pistils several, 1-ovuled, 

 separately immersed in the obconical receptacle, which is much enlarged 

 and broadly top-shaped at maturity, the imbedded nut-like fruits resem- 

 bling small acorns. Embryo large ; no albumen. Petioles and pedun- 

 8les all from the tuberous rootstock, the centrally peltate leaves and the 

 flowers large. 



3. Nelumbo. Character of the Suborder. 



SUBORDER III. Nymphaeacese proper. Sepals 4-6, and petals 

 numerous in many rows, persistent or decaying away, either hypogynous 

 or variously adnate to the surface of the compound 8-30-celled ovary, 

 which is formed by the union of as many carpels ; the numerous ovules 

 inserted over the whole inner face of the cells, except at the ventral 

 suture. Stigmas radiate as in Poppy. Fruit baccate, with a firm rind. 

 Petioles and peduncles from a thick rootstock. 



4. Nymphsea. Petals adnate to the ovary, large ; the stamens on its summit. 



5. Nuphar. Petals (very small and stamen-like) and stamens inserted under the ovary. 



