Ii8 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



which retain their shape when taken out of the water. The 

 stipules are large. Leaves sessile. About i foot long. 



4. Water-shield 



Brasenia peltata. — Family, Water-lily. Color, purple. 

 Leaves, floating, 2 or 3 inches wide, alternate, roundish or 

 oval, with a central, long petiole. Time, summer. 



Sepals and petals, 3 or 4. Stamens, 12. Pistils, 2 to 18. 



Flowers, small, in the leaf-axils, springing from a creeping root- 

 stock. Growing in ponds and sluggish streams. Dr. Gray says 

 it is " also a native of Puget Sound, Japan, Australia, and East 

 India.'' Stem several feet long. 



5. Yellow Nelumbo. Sacred Bean. Water- 

 chinquapin 



Nelumbo Itiiea. — Family, Water-lily. Color, yellow. Leaves, 

 growing well out of water, large, 18 to 20 inches across, round- 

 ish, sinking in the centre, where the stalk joins the blade. 

 Time, summer. 



Sepals and petals, like those of the water-lily. 



The flower is from i to 5 inches in diameter, scentless, grow- 

 ing, as do the leaves, on tall stems, from a root -stock. The 

 numerous pistils are hidden in a concave receptacle, and they 

 produce bean-like, eatable seeds. The plant also produces edible 

 tubers. Found in a few ponds in southern Connecticut, west- 

 ward and southward ; rare in the Middle States. Dr. Gray says, 

 probably introduced by Indians. 



6. Water-nymph. Water-lily 



Nymphaea odorata. — Family, Water-lily. Color, white, or 

 rarely pink. Leaves, thick, round, heart-shaped, 6 or 8 inches 

 across, long petioled, with entire margins, often reddish under- 

 neath. Time, June to August. 



Sepals, 4. Petals, numerous, the outer broad, growing nar- 



