890 NYMPHAEACEAE (WATER LILY FAMILY) 



suture; the embryo inclosed in a little hag at the end of the albumen next the 

 hilum, except in Nelnmbium, which has no albumen. Cotyledons thick and 

 fleshy, inclosing a well-developed plumule. — Flowers axillary, solitary. Verna- 

 tion involute. Rootstocks apparently endogenous. 



Subfamily I. NYMPHAEOIDEAE 



Sepals 4-6, and petals numerous in many rows, persistent or decaying away, 

 either hypogynous or variously adnate to the surface of the compound 8-30- 

 celled ovary, which is formed by the union of as many carpels ; the numerous 

 ovules inserted over the whole inner face of the cells, except at the ventral 

 suture. Stigmas radiate as in the Poppy. Fruit baccate, with a firm rind. 

 Petioles and peduncles from a (usually thickish) rootstock. 



]. Nymphaea. Petals (very small and stamen-like) and stamens inserted under the ovary, 



3. Castalia. Petals adnate to the ovary, large ; the stamens on its summit. 



Subfamily II. NELUMBONOfDEAE 



Sepals and petals numerous in several rows, passing gradually into each 

 other, and with the indefinitely numerous stamens hypogynous and deciduous. 

 Pistils several, 1-ovuled, separately immersed in the obconical receptacle, 

 which is much enlarged and broadly top-shaped at maturity, the imbedded 

 nut-like fruits resembling small acorns. Embryo large ; no albumen. — Petioles 

 and peduncles all from the tuberous rootstock, the centrally peltate leaves and 

 the flowers large. 



8. Helunibo. Character of the subfamily. 



Subfamily III. CABOMBOfDEAE 



Sepals and petals each 3 or sometimes 4, hypogynous and persistent. Stamens 

 definite (3-18). Pistils 2-18, free and distinct, coriaceous and indehiscent, 

 1-3-seeded on the dorsal suture. — Stems slender, leafy, coated with mucilage. 

 Flowers small. 



4. Brasenia. Stamens 12-18. Carpels 4^18. Leaves all peltate. 



5. Cabomba. Stamens 8-4. Carpels 2-3. Submersed leaves capillary-multtfid. 



1. NYMPHAEA [Tourn.] L. Yellow Pond Lily. Spattek-dook 



Sepals 5, 6, or sometimes more, roundish, concave. Petals numerous, small 

 and thickish, stamen-like or scale-like, inserted with the very numerous short 

 stamens on the receptacle under the ovary, not surpassing the disk-like 7-24- 

 rayed sessile stigma, persistent and at length recurved. Fruit ovoid, naked, 

 usually ripening above the water. Aril none. — ■ Rootstock creeping, cylindrical. 

 Leaves with a deep sinus at the base. Flowers yellow or sometimes tinged 

 with purple, produced all summer. (Name formerly used for the white-flowered 

 water lilies, dedicated by the Greeks to the Water Nymphs.) Nuphak Sibth. 

 &Sm. 



[/^ 1. N. ddvena Ait. (Cow Lily). Sepals 6, unequal (yellow, mostly tinged 

 with green or brown) ; petals shorter than the stamens and resembling them, 

 thick and fleshy, truncate ; stigma nearly entire, 12-2i-rayed, yellow or pale 

 red; ovary and fruit (3.5-5 cm. long) scarcely contracted above; thin sub- 

 mersed leaves seldom present ; floating or emersed and erect leaves thick (1.5-3 



