38 NELUMBIACEiE. Nelumbidm. 



1. Nelumbium llteum, Willd. Great Yelloto Water-lily. Water Chinqucpin. 



Anthers prod\iced into a linear appendage. — Michx. Jl. \.p. 317 ; Turpin in ann. mns. 7. 

 p. 210. t. 11./. 17; DC.prodr. I. p. 113; Torr. compend.p. 228 ; Torr. ^- Gr.jl. N. Am. 

 \.p. 57. Nymphxa Nclumbo, Walt.jl. Car. p. 155. Cyamus flavicomus, Salisb. ann. hot. 

 2. p. 45 ; Pursh, jl. 2. p. 398. C. luieus, Nutt. gen. 2. p. 25 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 67 ; Bart. Jl. 

 Am. Sept. 2. p. 77. t. 63 ; Nutt. in Amer. phil. trans. 2 ser. 5. p. 160. 



Tlie tuberous rliizomas, according to Mr. Nuitall, resemble those of the Siueet Potato, and 

 are traversed internally by from five to seven longitudinal cavities. They are found at the 

 depth of from twelve to eighteen inches below the surface of the earth, and are connected by 

 running roots. When fully ripe (wliich is when the seeds have arrived at maturity), they 

 become, after considerable boiling, as farinaceous, agreeable and wholesome as the potato. 

 The leaves are orbicular, and a foot or more in diameter, paler beneath, and marked with 

 prominent radiating veins. Peduncles slightly muricate, partly emerged. Flowers pale yel- 

 low, 6-8 inches in diameter. Sepals obovate, the two exterior ones smaller. Torus turbi- 

 nate, when mature 3-4 inches in diameter ; the flat-top with 15-20 excavations, in which 

 are lodged the roundish esculent nuts. 



Big Sodus Bay, Lake Ontario {Dr. Sartwell) ; the only known locality of this splendid 

 plant in the State of New- York. /•"/. June. Fr. September. 



Order VIII. NYMPH^^ACEJ^:. Salisb. The Pond-lily Tribe. 



Sepals and petals several or numerous, imbricated, passing gradually into each 

 other ; the former persistent, the latter inserted on the fleshy torus which 

 surrounds the pistil ; inner series gradually passing into stamens. Stamens 

 numerous, in several rows, inserted into the torus with or above the petals ; the 

 petaloid filaments often produced above the adnate introrse anther-cells. 

 Ovary many-celled ; ovules numerous, attached to the dissepiments, anatro- 

 pous. Stigma large, peltate, radiate, compound, formed of as many rays or 

 united stigmas as there are cells or carpels in the ovary. Fruit not opening, 

 somewhat fleshy when mature, crowned by the stigma, many-celled. Seeds 

 covering the spongj' dissepiments. Embryo minute, enclosed in the membra- 

 nous sac of the nucleus, which is situated next the hilum, and half immersed 

 in the mealy albumen. — Aquatic herbs, with peltate or cordate leaves, and 

 one-flowered peduncles. Flowers large, white, roso-color or yellow. 



