NYMPH^ACE^. 83 



of descending anatropous ovules inserted on the side walls of the 

 cells, with the raphe looking towards the median plane of the cell ; 

 while the micropyle is upwards, close under the attachment of the 

 ovule, and against the dissepiment. 1 The fruit is a many- seeded 

 berry; it however finally opens, each carpel separating from the 

 epicarp and its neighbours by the splitting of the dissepiment. 2 

 The seeds, plunged in a gummy mucus that fills the cells of the 

 fruit, contain within their coats a large farinaceous albumen, at 

 whose apex is seen a much smaller fleshy albumen, surrounding the 

 embryo (fig. 92). This is short and stumpy, consisting of a very 

 short tigellum and superior radicle, and two large cotyledons lodging 

 in their hollow the gemmule, wherein two leaves are usually distin- 

 guishable. The part of the seed lodging in the embryo is protected 

 by a little, circular, valve-like lid (fig. 91), which, at a certain period, 

 may come off from the rest of the seed-coats. Naphar consists of 

 herbaceous perennials, inhabiting fresh water. The stem is a thick 

 rhizome, creeping in the mud, and bearing the scars of adventitious 

 roots and of leaves. The leaves are alternate exstipulate, with long 

 petioles, and peltate floating blades, cordate at the base. 3 The 

 flowers are yellow, solitary or geminate, 4 supported on long pe- 

 duncles ; they expand in the air, where they ripen their fruit. 

 Three or four species are known, 5 inhabiting the extratropical 

 regions of the Northern Hemisphere in both Worlds. 



The White Water-lily c (Fr., Nenuphar blanc) has been left the type 

 of the genus Nymphaa 7 (figs. 93-98). Here the receptacle assumes 

 the form of a rather deep cup, containing the greater part of the 



1 They have two coats. Bor.-Amer., ii. 370. — Ait., Sort. Kew., ed. 2, 



2 " Carpels oo , immersed in a thick annular iii. 295.. — Pl., in Ann. Sc. Nat., ser. 3, xix. 

 torus, and concrete therewith into an oo -locular 57. — Casp., in Ann. Mm. Lugd.-BaL, iii. 254, 

 ovary" (B. H., Gen., loc. cit.). Tr£cul (loc. cit., t. 8.— Walp., Ann., iv. 168; vii. 76. 



326) has fully studied the septicidal dehiscence of G Nymphaa alba L., Spec, 729. — DC, 



the Iruit. I do not think that any part of the Prodr., n. 14. — Gren. & Godr., Ft. de Fr., i. 



receptacle enters into the formation of the walls 156. 



of the gynseceum. ' T., Inst., 260, t. 137, 138 (part.). — L., 



3 For the detailed study of all these parts and Gen., n. 653 (part.). — Neck., Flem., n. 1828. — 

 the development of the vegetative organs see Rich., Anal, du Fruit, 69. — DC, Sgst., ii. 49 ; 

 Tr£ct/l's memoir {loc. cit., 287, 293, 305). Prodr., i. 114. — Spjch, Suit, a Buffon, vii. 



4 " I have not heen able to recognise the in- 167. — Endl., Gen., n. 5020. — Pater, Organog., 

 florescence; the flowers are grouped in pairs, 269, t. 59. — Pl., in Ann. Sc. Nat., ser. 3, xix. 

 with one larger than the other, but whether 30. — A. Gray, Gen. III., t. 42, 43. — E. H., 

 they arise from the axils of the leaves, as in Gen., 46, 965, n. 4. — Lexiconi/mphaa Boerh., 

 Ntpnphcea alba, I am unable to say" (Pater, loc. Iugd.-Bat., 364. — Castalia Salisb., in Keen, 

 cit., 269). Ann., ii. 71 ; Par. Land., n. 14, 68. 



5 Deless., Ic. Sel., ii. t. 6. — Puesh, Fl. 



G 



9 



