06 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



also analogous to that found in submerged stems generally, to what- 

 ever group they may belong, presenting numerous cylindrical 

 lacunar interposed between the lax chlorophyll-containing elements 

 of the parenchyma. The whole is surrounded by an epidermis bear- 

 ing peculiar hairs. 1 The absence of spiral vessels and tracheae in the 

 submerged leaves, as well as in the axes, is the most remarkable point 

 of their organization. The scape of Sarracena approaches that of 

 Leontice, and the Podophyllece in anatomical structure. It contains 

 fibro-vascular bundles 2 near the circumference, scattered through a 

 jDarenchyma which is the sole constituent of the centre, where it 

 forms a kind of pith. 3 In the rhizome the most central of these 

 bundles form a pretty regular circle, though separated from one 

 another by unequal breadths of cellular tissue. 4 



The general properties 5 of the Nt/mjrfiaacea may be shortly 

 summed up : their vegetative organs are demulcent, sedative, and 

 astringent ; the quantity of starch deposited in rhizome, albumen, 

 and embryo makes these nutritive and analeptic. Nelambo nuci/era 6 

 is the sacred Lotus so often seen figured on Egyptian and Indian 

 monuments. According to the Brahmin mythology Brahma sits 

 thereon, and on its floating leaves Vishnu was borne on the waters at 

 the day our earth was formed. With it the Egyptians adorned 

 the heads of Isis and Osiris. On the fresh waters of the East and 

 Tropical Asia, its elegant floating leaves and magnificent white or 

 pink flowers form a picture often copied by the Indian and Chinese 

 painters, and sung by the poets sacred and profane. The corolla 

 adds to its charming colour a scent of anise and a slight astringency, 

 which render it as precious as the rose. The Tamarama of the 

 Hindoos is moreover rich in farinaceous nutriment, a valued 



surrounding tissue, wberefrom they only differ in considerable, and gorged with starch. The outer- 



their more elongated elements. most bundles are slender, as compared with the 



1 Conical, ascending, and often applied to the rest ; they early turn brown, and contain no 

 surface, possibly secreting the mucilage with trachea? that can be unrolled. 



which the stems are covered. 5 M£e. & Del., Diet. Mat. Med., iv. 639. — 



2 In these the fibres often surround completely Gttib., Drog. Simp!., ed. 7, iii. 719. — A. Rich., 

 the separate vessels, which are collected in the Mem., ed. 4, ii. 422. — Exdl., Enchirid., 462, 

 centre; in other cases the fibres are confined to 464, 465. — Lindl., Veg. Kingd., 411, 412, 414; 

 the outside. Fh Med., 19.— Rosenth., Syn. PL Diaphor., 



3 Sometimes partially absorbed, making the 652, 1142. 



stem fistular. 6 See pp- 7 6> 79> note 2> fig _ 74^73. 



4 The central part occupied by the pith is here 



