558 



BOTANY. 



NelumMum hiteum, the Yellow Water Lily, or Water Chinquapin, 

 is common in the ponds and rivers of the Mississippi Valley and the 

 Southern States. Its nut-like fruits, which are imbedded in the large 

 top-shaped receptacle, are edible. (Figs. 548-9.) 



Fig. 548.— Leaf, flower, and fruiting receptacle of Nelvmbium luteum, 

 size. — From Le Maout and Decaiene. 



% natural 



N. speciosum, the only other species of the genus, occurs in Southern 

 and Southeastern Asia. 

 Nymphaa odorata and N. tvberosa are the well-known White Water 

 Lilies of the Eastern United States. N. cwrvlea 

 and If. Lotus are common on the Nile. 



Victoria regia, the Victoria Lily of the Ama- 

 zon Valley in South America, is remarkable for 

 the size of its leaves and flowers ; the former are 

 peltate, perfectly circular, and two metres or more 

 in diameter, and the slender petioles are often 

 three metres long ; the flowers resemble those of 

 our White Water Lilies, and are twenty-five to 

 thirty centimetres in diameter ; upon first opening 

 they are pure white, but upon opening a second 

 i if time they are of a pink color. 



I 11 Order BerberidacesB. — The Barberry Family. 



I 1 1 Herbs and shrubs with alternate or radical leaves ; 



J JU flowers monoclinous or diclinous ; petals and sta- 



mens few ; carpels one to three, rarely more, 

 distinct. Species about 100, mostly natives of cool 

 climates. 



Serberis vulgaris, the Barberry of Europe (Figs. 550-3), is cultivated 

 as an ornamental shrub, as well as for its edible acid berries. The 

 flowers are interesting on account of their sensitive stamens, which 



Pig. 549.— Section of 

 the young receptacle 

 und cari)els. 



