DICOTYLEDONES— THALAMIFLOE^ 



269 



Distribution and Numbers. — They are found in the 

 temperate parts of Europe, America, and Asia, and are very 

 common in the mountainous parts of the North of India. 

 Illustrative Genera : — Berboris, Linn. ; Epimedium, Linn. ; 

 Leontioe, Linn. The order includes 20 genera and about 100 

 species. 



Properties and Uses. — These plants are generally acid, 

 astringent, and bitter; but some are purgative. Their acid 

 properties are due to the presence of oxalic acid. 



Order 53. NympHjEAoe^e, the "Water-lily Order. — Character. 

 — Aquatic herbs, with generally i3oating leaves which are 

 peltate or cordate ; when submerged leaves are present, they are 

 much divided. Flowers generally floating, sometimes emerged, 



Fig. 1025. 



Fig. 1026. 



Fig. 1027. 



Pig. 1028. 



Fig. 1025. Diagi'am of the flower 



of the Barberry (lierberi.i). 



J^itj. 1026. Vertical section of the 



flower of Ejthnediiim. Fi'j. 



1027. Vertical section of tlie 



ovary of Berheris. Fiij. 1028. 



Vertical section of the seed of 

 Berheris, with the embryo in the 

 axis surrounded by albumen. 



solitary, large and ' showy ; usually acyclic, without any sharp 

 demarcation between the petals and stamens. Sepals 3 — 5, 

 petals 3 — CD, imbricate ; stamens 6 — oo : outer filaments peta- 

 loid. The petals and stamens are sometimes all free and 

 hypogynous, sometimes all, or the inner ones only, inserted at 

 different heights on a, torus which encloses the carpels. Carpels 

 3 — 8, sometimes distinct, but usually cohering in a whorl and 

 forming a many-celled ovary, which is free and superior in 

 Nuphar or adherent to the torus in Nymphiea and other genera. 

 Sometimes the carpels are embedded singly in cavities in the 



