NYMPHJ5A. NYMPH^ACEiE. 39 



1. NYMPHS A. Tourn. ; Endl. gen. 5020. white WATERLILY. 



[So called from its inhabiting the water as the nymphs were wont to i^o] 



Sepals 4, at the base of the torus. Petals numerous, inserted, as well as the stamens, into 

 the fleshy torus surrounding the ovary. Flowers white or rose-color. 



1. Nymeh.«a odorata, Ait. Great White Water-lihj. 



Leaves oval-orbicular, or somewhat reniform, with the primary veins prominent and nu- 

 merous underneath ; stigma 16 - 20-rayed ; rays incurved. — Torr. cj- Gr.fl. N. Am. \. p. 57. 



var. 1 : sinus and lobes of the leaves more or less acute. — Turr. (j- Gr. I. c. N. odorata, 

 Ait. Kew. {ed. 1.) 2. ;;. 227 ; Willd. Jiort. Berol. 1. i. 39 ; Pursh, ft. 2. p. 3G8 ; DC. sijst. 2. 

 p. 57 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 7 ; Ilook.Jl. Bor.-Am. l.p. 32. N. alba, Michx fl. I. p. 311. 



var. 2: smaller; leaves and peduncles purplish; flowers rose-color. — Torr. 6,- Gr. I. c. 

 (under var. ?.) N. odorata, var. rosea, Pursh, I. c. N. odorata, var. minor, Bot. mag. 

 t. 1652. N. minor, DC. I. c. 



Rhizoma very thick, creeping in the mud. Petioles and peduncles about the size of a crow- 

 quill, varying in length according to the depth of the water. Leaves 4-7 inches long and 

 3-6 inches wide, coriaceous, always lying on the surface of the water ; llie sinus reaching 

 to the centre of the lamina. Flowers 3 inches or more in diameter when fully expanded, very 

 odorous, usually closing in the afternoon. Sepals about as long as tlie outer petals, elliptical. 

 Petals about 30, the inner rows gradually becoming narrower and passing into stamens. 

 Stigma large, sessile, yellowish, with a roundish gland in the centre ; the margin formed of 

 numerous linear incurved rays. Fruit baccate, ovate, marked by the insertion of the stamens 

 and petals. 



Not uncommon in ponds and slow-flowing streams. June - August. One of the most orna- 

 mental plants of the United States. The var. 2. occurs in shallow ponds on Long Island. 

 The rhizoma is sometimes used for dyeing a brown color, and also as a styptic and tonic. 



2. NUPHAR. Smith; Endl. gen. 5021. yellow pond-lilv. 



[The name nuphar, of Dioscorides, has been applied to this genus. According to Furskal, the Arabic name is Ttati/ar.] 



Sepals 5 - 6. Petals numerous, nectariferous on the back, much smaller than the sepals, and 

 inserted with them and the stamens at the base of the torus. Flowers yellow. 



1. NupnAR LUTEA, Smith. Small- flowered Yellow Pond-lily. 



Sepals 5; stigma 16 - 20-raycd, deeply umbilicate ; the margin entire; leaves cordate- 

 oval, with approximate lobes; petioles triquetrous {DC). — Ait. Kew. {ed. 2.) 3. p. 295; 

 Pursh, Jl. 2. p. 309 ; Ilook.Jl. Bor.-Am. l.p. 32 ; Bong. veg. Sitcha, p. 124 ; Torr. ^ Gr. 

 fl. N. Am. l.p. 58. Nymphasa lutea, Linn. 



