233 PLOHA iNDiOA. \Nymphiseacecs. 



cylindriois, radicula crassa infera. — Herbae rhizomate horizontali peren- 

 nante, caule erecto tereti, foliis ad npicem caulis 2 longe petiolatis pel- 

 tatis, lobatis partUisve ; floribus solitariis axillaribus v. supra-axillaribus 

 albis. 



1. P. Emodi (Wall. Cat. 814); pedunculis supra-axillaribus, flo- 

 ribus hexandris. — P. hexandrum, Royle, III. 64 ; Becaisne in Jacq. Voy. 

 Bot. 11. t. 9. 



Hab. In Himalaya iuteriore temperata et subalpina : Sikkim 10- 

 14,000 ped.! Nipal.'^a^^..' Kumaou, etc., 9-14,000 ped.! in Kashmir 

 ad alt. 6000 ped. descendens ! — (Fl. Apr. Mai.) {v. v.) 



Herba scapigera. Radix e fibris crassis. Caulis solitarius, longe nudus, basi va- 

 ginatas, herbaceus, teres, glaber. Folia 2, alterna, petiolata, late orbiculari-reni- 

 formia, palmatim 3-5-loba, 6-10 unc. lata, viridia, saipiua purpureo-maoulata, seg- 

 mentis vernatione deflexis, cuneatis, supra medium lobatis et argute serratis, ju- 

 uioribus subtus tomentosis. Pedunculus validus. Flos erectus, prime vere evolutus, 

 erectus, demum nutans, albus v. roseus, cyathiformis, 1-1^-pollicaris. Sepala 3, 

 late obloQga. Fetala 6, obovato-oblonga. Stamina 6, ovario requilonga ; antheris 

 elongatis. Ovarium ampullaceum ; stylo brcvissimo ; stigmate cristate ; ovulis in 

 placenta lateral! multiseriatis. Bacca oblonga v. elliptica, 1-2-pollicaris, rubra, car- 

 nosa, edulis, seminibus dense farcta. " Semina subellipsoidea, brunnea, 2 lin. longa. 

 Iniegumentum duplex, exterius membranaceum ; interius pellucidum. Albumen album, 

 carnosum. Fmbryo parvulus, bilo proximus, radicula crassa, obtusa, bilo spectante ; 

 cotyledones parvulfe, semicylindricEc." — Lecaisne, I.e. 



A very remarkable plant, one of the earliest spring flowers in tie Himalaya. The 

 leaflets, or segments of the leaf, are plicate, and folded downwards on to the petiole 

 in bud, and the whole plant has much the habit of Franthis hyemalis, though its 

 being a true member of the Berberidece is, we think, indisputably proved by the 

 structure of the fruit. The broad placenta, with many rows of ovules, is an ap- 

 proach to the structure of Nymphi?acets. The pulpy covering of the seeds in P.pel- 

 taium of North America, is described by Torrey, Flora of the State of New York, i. 

 35, as an arillus developed from the whole surface of the placenta ; a modification of 

 this we have shown to take place in some Lardizabaleiv. The snpra-axiUary pe- 

 duncle is a singular feature, which is, however, not shared by its American congener. 

 We find it repeated in many Menispermees, Anonacece, and amongst the allies of Ber- 

 berideis^ and in Capparideie and Solniifiv, and other Orders having little direct affi- 

 nity with these. i?he pulpy tasteless fruit is eaten, as is that of the North Ameri- 

 can P. peltatum, L., whose leaves are poisonous and the root a drastic cathartic. 



XII. NYMPH^ACEtE. 



Cabombeas, JRich. 



Sepala 3-6, libera v. basi inter se et cum toro connata, interdum cum 

 ovariis cohserentia. Torm nuUus, v. carnosus, cum sepalis petalisque 

 adnatus, v. cum sepalis in tubum apice stamina et petala gereutem 

 coalitus. Petala 8-6 v. plerumque iudefinita, multiseriata, seriebus 

 alternantibus oppositisve, interiora ssepissirae in stamina transeuntia, 

 rarissime in coroUam gamopetalam coalita. Stamina definita v. inde- 

 finita, sfepissime perplurima, multiseriata, petalis opposita v. opposita et 

 alterna. AntJierx innatse, longitudinaliter dehisceutes. Carpella 3 v. 

 ssepius indefinita, libera v. ssepissime verticillata et mediante toro in 



