N. 0. NYMPH^CE^J. 73 



56. Euryale ferox, Salisb. h.f.b.l, i. 115. 



Habitat : — Sweet water lakes and ponds of East Bengal, 

 Assam, Manipur, Oudli and Kashmir. 



Sansk. Mukhauna ; padma. 



Vern. : — Makhana (H & B) ; Kunta padma vUriya) ; Jewar 

 (Pb.) ; Melluni pacinian (Tel). 



A densely prickly aquatic. Rootstock short. Leaves peltate, 

 corrugate, 1-4 ft. diam., elliptic or orbicular, green above, downy, 

 deep bluish-purple beneath (Curtis PI. 1447), with strong 

 spiny ribs. Spines sharp-curved on the under and upper 

 surfaces. Ribs dichotomously branched over the whole leaf. 

 The leaf, while in bud, is curiously folded up and enclosed in an 

 involucre, which bursts as the leaf expands. Petiole long, wavy, 

 spiny. Flowers 1-2 in. long, bright-red inside, green and 

 shining outside. Sepals 4, erect, inserted on the edge of the 

 torus above the carpels. Petals numerous, violet, 3-5 seriate, 

 shorter than the sepals Stamens many, many-seriate, fas- 

 cicled in eights ; filaments linear, pollen spherical, 3-nncleate. 

 Ovary 8-celled, sunk in the dilated top of the torus. Stigma 

 sessile; discoid, concave. Berry spongy, 2-4 in. diam., crowned 

 with persistent sepals. Seeds 8-20, from a pea to a cherry in 

 size, much eaten roasted. Aril pulpy. Testa thick, black. 

 Albumen mealy ; embryo small. 



Use : — The seed is considered as possessed of powerful medi- 

 cinal virtues, such as restraining seminal gleet, invigorating 

 the system, &c. (Roxburgh). 



A light and invigorating food, suited for the sick (U. C, 

 Dutt). 



57. Nelumbium speeiosum, Willd. H. F. B. I., 

 i. 116. Roxb. 450. 



Sansk. : — Kamala (A lotus), sweta (white), Ambhoja (born 

 from water), saraja (born from a lake), sarsiruha (growing in 

 a lake), sahasrapatra (Thousand-leaved), srigeha ( Abode of 

 beauty), satapatra (Hundred-leaved), Pankeruha (growing 

 in mud), Tamarasai (copper colour), Rajina (Lotus), Push- 

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