12 COMMON CANADIAN WILD PLANTS. 



8. PODOPHYL'LIIM, L. MAY APPLE. Mandrake. 



P. pelta'tum, L. stem about 1 foot high. Flowerless stems 

 ■with one large 7-9-lobed umbrella-like leaf, peltate in the 

 centre ; the flowering ones with two leaves, peltate near the 

 edge, the flower nodding from the fork. Sepals 6, caducous. 

 Petals 6-9, large and white^ Stamens 12-18. JFruit large, 

 oval, yellowish, not poisonous. — Pound in patches in rich 

 woods. The leaves and roots are poisonous. 



6. .IKFFBRSO'SIA, Barton. TwiN-LIyAF. 



J. diphyl'la, Pers. A low plant, flowering in early spring ; 

 the solitary white flowers on naked scapes. Sepals 4, fuga- 

 cious. Petals 8. Stamens 8. Ovary pointed. Stigma 

 2-lobed. Pod pear-shaped, the top forming a lid. Leaves 

 radical, long-petioled ; the blades divided into two leaflets 

 with the outer margins lobed. — Woods, chiefly in the western 

 peninsula of Ontario. j 



Order VI. KYmTEMA'CEM. (Water-Lily Family.) 



Aquatic herbs with cordate or peltate, visually floating, 

 leaves. Floating flowers on long immersed peduncles. 

 Petals and stamens generally numerous. 



Synopsis of the Ccncrii, 



■ 1. ICrasc'nia. Sepals and petals each 3 (occasionally 4). Stamens 

 l2-g4. Leaves oval, peltate. 



2. Xymplisie'a. Sepals 4-6. Petals nnmeroiis, white, imbricated in 



many rows, gradually passing into stamens, hypogynous, or epi- 

 gynous. Stamens eplgynoua. Stigmas radiating as in a Poppy- 

 head. 



3. Hill' pilar. Sepals 6-6, yellow. Petals many, small and 8t.amen- 



like. Stamens under the ovary. 



1. RUASE'NIA, Schreber. Water-Shield. 



Pi. pelta'ta, Pursh. Stems and under surface of the 

 leaves coated with jelly. Leaves oval, two inches across, 

 peltate. Flowers small, purplish. — Ponds and slow-flowin" 

 streams. 



