NYMPH^EACEjE. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 10. 



NUPHAR. 



Sepals 5-6, petaloid, hypogynous, permanent. Petals 10-18, 

 hypogynous, much smaller than the sepals, secreting honey 

 from their back. Stamens numerous, hypogynous, springing 

 with elasticity from the ovary about the time of flowering. 

 Capsule dry, indehiscent, 10-18-celled, crowned by a stellate 

 peltate stigma, with the same number of rays. Seeds indefinite 

 in number. 



49. N. lutea Smith prodr. i. 361. DC. prodr. i. 116 

 Theophrastus. Ni//*p aia, aXXy or Noi^ap Dioscorides. Nymphaea 

 lutea Linn. sp. pi. 729. Eng. Bot. t. 159. In rivers and 

 ponds in all parts of Europe ; also in the United States. 



Petioles obscurely triangular, smooth. Leaves cordate oblong, float- 

 ing, bright green on each side ; with the auricles approximated. Pe- 

 duncles taper. Flowers yellow. Sepals 5, green at the back, very 

 obtuse. Petals much smaller. Stigma quite entire, of a firm cartilagin- 

 ous or horny texture, always yellow, with as many as 20 rays. Root- 

 stock slightly poisonous ; beetles and cockroaches are said to be killed 

 by its infusion in milk ; it has been reputed sedative and anti-aphro- 

 disiac. 



NYMPHAEA. 



Sepals 4, arising from the side of the ovary. Petals 16-28, 

 perigynous, gradually diminishing towards the centre and then 

 changing into numerous perigynous stamens. Capsule dry, in- 

 dehiscent, 16-20-celled, with a sessile peltate stigma having 

 the same number of rays ; covered over by the withered sepals 

 and petals. A papilla in the centre of the peltate stigma. 



50. N. alba Linn, sp.pl. 729. Eng. bot. t. 160. Fl. Dan. 

 t. 602. DC. prodr. i. 115. 2ify, Theophrastus. Ni^aia, 

 Dioscorides. The waters of all parts of Europe ; also in the 

 United States (?). 



Petioles taper, smooth, long in proportion to the depth of water. 

 Leaves ovate-orbicular, deeply cordate at base, quite entire, furnished 

 beneath with a broad prominent midrib and 7 radiant veins on each 

 side ; the auricles approximated and obtuse. Pedicels like the petioles. 

 Flowers white. Flowerbuds ovate-oblong, somewhat square at the 

 base. Sepals 4, green externally, white inside. Petals 28, namely in 

 7 rows of 4 each, adhering to the ovary, and in decaying leaving 7 

 spiral lines of stars around the ovary. Stamen* numerous, the ex- 

 19 c 2 



