Nymphaa.] ploka indica. 239 



carpels is a well known one, to which we only call attention as indicating an affinity 

 with Berberideo! through Podophyllum, with Lardizabale/B through HollhoUia and 

 all the typical genera of that Order, and with Papaveraceie through Papaver itself, 

 which has broad placentfe, and especially through the Mexican genus Romneya, the 

 ovules of which are distributed over the whole cavity of the ovary. In Cabombeai 

 the ovules are few, and confined to the dorsal suture of the carpels ; and these are 

 free, indicating an affinity to Nelumhiaceie on the one hand and Platystemon on the 

 other, a genus of Papaveracea with two free carpels. 



The seeds of Nymphteaoea are sometimes arillate, when the arillus forms an elon- 

 gated fleshy cup, arising from towards the base of the funiculus and completely enve- 

 loping the seed. In most species the seeds are completely imbedded in a cellular pulp 

 derived from the walls of the carpels and placental surfaces, affording a strong ana- 

 logy to the pulp of Lardizabalecd and Podophyllum. The fact of the embryo being 

 enclosed in the amniotic sac is well known to be common to this Order, and to some 

 very far removed from it, as Piperacea and Saururem ; but we have indicated a very 

 analogous structure in Monimiaceie, and we would further call attention to the strong 

 resemblance between the canal in the axis of the farinaceous albumen of Nymphiea- 

 cece and the cellular mass occupying the axis of the fleshy albumen of Hortonia 

 and Boldoa. The relation of these to the amniotic sac is not made out, but we may 

 remark that they are certainly part of the nucleary sac of the ovule, and that in Hor- 

 tonia bat little albumen is developed in that part, which remains cellular in the 

 ripe seed, whilst in Nymphaa, owing to the cellular tissue itself being absorbed, an 

 open canal remains. The fact of the embryo lying in a cavity at the apex of the albu- 

 men, and not immersed in it, is repeated in Leontice and Bongardia, genera of Ber- 

 beridece, where we have further indicated the sheath of the radicle as an important 

 modification of embryo-coverings, and requiring explanation. 



Other peculiarities of Nymphceacem, indicating their afltluity, are that Calombea 

 difi'er little from the ternary-sepaled Panunculi, except in the insertion, etc., of their 

 ovules and their amniotic sac, and that they closely imitate in habit the Bammculi 

 of the Batrachium section. The great disc of Nymphaa is represented by that of 

 Pceoiiia, as indicated by De Candolle. In form the stigmata strongly resemble those 

 oi Pa/paver, ts do the seeds to a great extent. The whorl of carpels ai Nympheea fur- 

 ther resembles in some degree that of lUicium and BUlenia, to which may be added 

 that Treeul describes the carpels of Nuphar as exhibiting a tendency to a dorsal de- 

 hiscence. 



We have thus a multitude of most important structural and physiological cha- 

 racters connecting Nymphaacecs with the Orders amongst which we place them, be- 

 sides many minor ones which are individually of little importance, but which together 

 establish an accumulation of atHnities all pointing in the same direction; to this we 

 may add, that we doubt if they agree with any other Natm'al Orders but the imme- 

 diate allies of these, in any characters of systematic importance. 



Suborder I. NymphjibjE. 



Stamina plurima. Carpella in ovarium pluriloculare concreta. Omla 

 plurima, parietibus ovarii undique affixa. 



1. NYMPHS A, L. 



(SspaZa 4, imo tore inserta. Pe^aZa 1 2-30, 2-4-seriata. Stamina iO- 

 60, multiseriata. Ovarium 6-8-loculare ; stigmalibus sessilibus linea- 

 ribus radiatis. Bacca spongiosa, irregulariter rupta. Semina in pulpa 

 nidulantia, arillo sacoiformi apice aperto induta; testa coriacea, 



To any one who has studied a numerous suite of specimens of the Indian species 

 of this beautiful genus, and the published descriptions of them, it will not be a matter 

 of surprise that we find it necessary to unite a considerable number. 



