44 SELECTED WESTERN FLORA 



1. P. oleracea, L. Common Pukslane. 



Stem spreading, succulent; leaves fleshy, smooth, opposite; flowers 

 sessile, with pale yellow but inconspicuous petals, soon withering. A 

 troublesome garden weed, introduced. 



XXIX. NYMPHiEACEiE (Water Lily Family). 



Aquatic perennial herbs with horizontal, fleshy, and apparently 

 endogenous rootstocks, floating or emersed leaves, and solitary 

 axillary flowers. Sepals 3-5; petals 5-many; stamens 5-many; 

 carpels 5-many, distinct or united; stigmas distinct, or (as iii our 

 species) united into a large radiate disk. 



1. NYMPH.a;A. Pond Lilt. 



Leaves cordate with a deep sinus at the base ; flowers showy yellow 

 or sometimes tinged in places with purple; sepals 5 or 6, thick, con- 

 cave; petals and stamens many, the one gradually merging into the 

 other, hypogenous; carpels many, united; stigmas united into a 

 disk of 8-24 rays. 



1. N. advena, Ait. Large Yellow Pond Lilt. 



Floating leaves large, orbicular, thick, with a deep sinus; submerged 

 leaves, if present, thin; submerged parts of the plant often pubescent; 

 flowers large, yellow or tinged with purple. Slow streams, Man.-Alta. 



XXX. RANUNCULACEiE (Crowfoot Family). 



t- Herbs or woody vines, with a colorless, bitter, and sometimes 

 / poisonous juice; parts of the flower all separate, and inserted on 

 the receptacle; petals 2-15, or wanting; sepals 3-15, and may be 

 colored like the petals; stamens numerous; fruit a dry pod, achene 

 or berry; leaves usually lobed or finely dissected, the petiole clasping 

 the stem by a spreading base. 



• 1. RANtJNCULUS. Buttercup. 



Sepals usually 5; petals 5 or more, with a pit or gland at the base. 

 Mostly annuals or perennials, with alternate leaves and somewhat 

 solitary flowers. 



