NYMPHJEACEJE. 



ternal somewhat abortive. Capsule the size of a small apple, with 16 

 cells and membranous dissepiments. Seeds horizontal or deflexed, 

 obovate, red, marked with rows of small dots, surrounded as far as 

 the base with a white cup-shaped arillus, and enveloped in a gelatin- 

 ous gluten. Root-stock astringent, styptic, and slightly narcotic. It 

 has been prescribed in dysentery, and is occasionally chewed by singers 

 to relieve the relaxation of the uvula. 



51. N. odorata Wild, sp.pl ii. 1153. Bot. Mag. t. 819. 

 Bot. Repos. t. 297. Bigelow med. Bot. ii. t. 55. Rivers and 

 ponds in the United States. 



Petioles somewhat semicircular, perforated throughout by long tubes 

 or air-vessels which serve to float them. Leaves floating, peltate, 

 nearly round, with a cleft or sinus extending to the centre. The lobes 

 on each side prolonged into an acute point ; bright glossy green above, 

 reddish beneath, and marked by a multitude of strong prominent veins 

 diverging from the centre. Sepals 4, lanceolate, green without, and 

 white within. Petals numerous, lanceolate, of a delicate whiteness, 

 with sometimes a tinge of lake on the outside. Stamens numerous, 

 yellow, in several rows ; filaments dilated, especially the outer ones, so 

 as to resemble petals. Anthers in 2 longitudinal cells growing to the 

 filaments, and opening inwardly. Stigma with from 12 to 24? rays, very 

 much resembling abortive anthers, at first incurved, afterwards spread- 

 ing. At the centre is a solid hemispherical protuberance. Stems 

 extremely astringent, and sometimes used in the composition of poul- 

 tices, answering a purpose similar to that of lead poultices and alum 

 curds. Bigelow. 



EURYALE. 



Calyx prickly, superior, 4-cleft. Petals numerous, spreading, 

 diminishing towards the centre, not changing into stamens. 

 Stamens numerous, in several rows, obtuse, with oval anthers. 

 Ovary 6-8-celled; cells 5-seeded. Stigma concave, distinct, 

 6-8-rayed, with as many notches. Fruit baccate, covered with 

 the decaying sepals and petals ; many seeded, arillate. 



52. E. ferox Salisb. ann. hot. 2. 73. DC. prodr. i. 114. 

 Anneslea spinosa Bot. rep. x. t. 618. Roxb. fl. ind. ii. 573. 

 Lakes and ponds in the country east of Calcutta. 



Leaves floating, peltate, orbicular or oval, from 1 to 4 feet in diame- 

 ter, slightly prickly above, very much so and bright purple beneath, 

 with projecting anastomosing veins; petioles and peduncles armed 

 with stiff straight prickles. Flowers small. Calyx armed externally 

 with recurved prickles. Petals a light blue violet. Berry the size of 

 an orange, swelling irregularly, containing about 20 seeds enveloped in 

 a complete, fleshy, rose-coloured aril. Seeds farinaceous ; much eaten 

 by the natives when roasted or rather baked. The Hindoo physicians 

 consider them possessed of powerful medicinal virtues, such as restrain- 

 ing seminal gleets, invigorating the system, &c. Roxb. 



20 



