232 CLASS XIII. ORDER II. • 



the centre, at which the petiole is inserted in a peltate manner. 

 The lobes on each side of this sinus are prolonged into an acute 

 point. The upper surface is cf a bright glossy green, almost 

 without veins ; the lower surface is reddish and marked by a 

 multitude of strong prominent veins diverging from the centre. 

 The calyx has four lanceolate leaves, green without and white 

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

 with sometimes a tinge of red on the outside. Stamens numer- 

 ous, yellow, in several rows, inserted on the germ ; filaments 

 dilated, especially the outer ones, so as to resemble petals ; an- 

 thers in two longitudinal cells growing to the filaments and 

 opening inwardly. The stigma is surrounded by from twelve to 

 twenty-four rays, resembling abortive anthers, at first incurved, 

 afterwards spreading. At the centre is a solid, moist, hemis- 

 pherical protuberance, which has been usually called a nectary, 

 but which appears to me to be the true stigma. — Fruit a large, 

 roundish, many celled berry, impressed Avith the marks of the 

 petals and stamens, ripening under water. Seeds numerous, 

 small. 



Common in deep rivers and ponds. — July. — Perennial. 



DIGYNIA. Two Styles. 

 238. MENISPERMUM. 

 Menispermum Canadense. Willd. 3Ioon Seed 



Leaves peltate, heart shaped, ronndish-angular, ra- 

 cemes compound. 



A climbing plant with dioecious flowers. Leaves broad roundish 

 with about five angular lobes. Flowers small, greenish yellow, 

 in compound racemes above the axils. Calyx of the barren flow- 

 ers about four or five leaved; petals smaller than these, roundish. 

 Stamens numerous. Drupe black, frosted, gibbous or curved. — 

 Amherst. Professor Hitchcock. — July. 



PENTAGYNIA. 



239. AQUILEGIA. 

 Aquilegia Canadensis. L. Wild Columbine. 



Nectaries straight ; stamens longer than the corolla. 

 L. 



