32 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



sepals or leaves of calyx 6, and petals numerous, and stamens 

 many, all standing round a large, furrowed, and ovate germ, con- 

 taining many seeds ; stigma peltate and large, sessile, circular, 

 with a crenated or undulate border. JV\ lutea, Sm., is said to be 

 confounded with this species. Beck. 



JV. kalmiana. Ait., is probably only a smaller variety of one 

 of the preceding species ; found by Mr. Boott in Sudbury River, 

 and flowers in June. 



This genus seems not to possess any interesting characters or 

 properties. Some animals will eat the roots of some of the 

 species. Nuphar seems to be the Arabic name of the plant 

 slightly altered, from Naufar. Loudon. 



ORDER 7. HYDROPELTIDEiE. 



Stamens many, hypogynous ; ovaries 2 or more, style short ; 

 calyx 3 or 4-leafed, and colored ; standing alternately with as 

 many petals. Only one species of this order in our State, and 

 only two anywhere ; both American plants, and aquatics, not 

 known to possess any valuable properties. 



Hydropeltis. Mx. 12. 12. 

 H. purpurea. Mx. Water Shield. Takes its name from 

 its fine, flat, elliptical leaf, floating on the surface of water, 

 and attached by its centre to the long leaf-stalk, woolly on the 

 under side, and smooth and shining on the upper ; bears dark 

 purple flow r ers, on a long stem, from the side of a leaf-stalk ; 

 flowers in July ; whole plant covered with a gelatinous sub- 

 stance. Ponds ; as on Taconic Mount. 



ORDER 8. PODOPHYLLEiE. 



Sepals 3 or 4, often deciduous ; petals several, around the 

 hypogynous stamens ; germ single, with a single nearly sessile 

 stigma ; the enlarged germ becomes succulent, or coriaceous, 

 many-seeded ; leaves large and lobed. This order is composed 

 of American plants ; only two species, and only one north of 

 Pennsylvania. 



