36 BERBERIDACEiE. Podopuylldm. 



Dr. Knicskcrn informs mc that he knew of a case where a whole family was poisoned, from 

 the young pianl having been eaten as greens in the early spring. They were saved by the 

 prompt exliibiiiou of einelics. A second species occurs in the mountains of Nepal. 



Group 2. Ovaries several, either separate, or perfecthj united into a compound 

 pistil, which is several-celled, tcith the placentie not j^arietal. Statnens indefi- 

 nite, inserted on the receptacle or torus. — Aquatic herbs. Leaves involute in 

 vernation. 



Order VI. CABOMBACE.E. Ricliard. The Water-shield Tribe. 



Sepals 3-4, colored inside, persistent. Petals 3 - 4, alternate with the sepals, 

 Stamens 6 - 36 : filaments slender; anthers innate. Ovaries 2 or many, with 

 2 or 3 pendulous anatropous ovules inserted on the dorsal suture ! Carpels 

 separate, indehiscent, foUicle-hke, somewhat fleshy. Seed 2-3 (sometimes 

 by abortion solitary), pendulous, with a minute embryo enclosed in the thick- 

 ened membrane or sac of the nucleus, which is half immersed in the fleshy 

 albumen at the extremity next the hilum. — Aquatic perennial herbs, with the 

 emersed leaves centrally peltate ; the submerged ones sometimes finely dis- 

 sected. Peduncles axillary, solitary, one-flowered. 



1. BRASENIA. Schreb. ; Endl. gen. 5025. Hydropeltis, Michx. WATER-SBIELD. 



Sepals 3 - 4, colored within, persistent. Petals 3 - 4. Stamens 18 - 36. Ovaries 6 -18: 

 ovules 2 (sometimes one), alternate. Carpels oblong, acuminate, 1 - 2-seeded. — Stem, 

 peduncles, petioles and under surface of the leaves thickly covered with a viscid transpa- 

 rent gelatinous substance. Leaves all centrally peltate. Flowers brownish-purple. 



1. Brasema peltata, Pursh. Water-shield. Water-target. 



Pursh, fl. 2. p. 389 ; Nutt. gen. 2. p. 23 ; Gray in arm. lye. N. York. 4. p. 46 ; Torr. 

 ^ Gr.jl. N. Amer. \.p. 55. B. Hydropeltis, Muhl. cat. p. 55 ; Torr. Camp. p. 228. Hydro- 

 peltis purpurea, Michx. fl. 1. p. 324 t. 29; Bot. mag. t. 1147; Ell. sk. 2. p. 66; DC. 

 prodr. \.p. 112; Darlingt.fl. Cest.p. 601. 



