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16 THE WATERLILY FAMILY. [ Nymphea. 
Ill. NYMPHZACEA. THE WATERLILY FAMILY. 
_ Aquatic herbs, with a submerged rootstock, orbicular or 
peltate floating leaves, and large solitary flowers, Sepals few. 
Petals numerous, in several rows, passing gradually into the 
stamens, which are also very numerous, their anthers adnate. 
Carpels numerous, but either imbedded into the receptacle, or 
combined together so as to form asingle ovary with many cells, 
each with a sessile stigma. Seeds albuminous, in the British 
genera, with a very small embryo. 
Water-lilies, although not numerous in species, are to be found floating 
on shallow, still, or gently running waters, in almost all parts of the world. 
They form an exceedingly natural group, of which several are in cultivation — 
in our hothouses, including the gigantic Victoria, from tropical America, 
and the elegant Nelumbo, from tropical Asia. 
Sepals greenish outside, about the size of the outer (white) petals . 1. NymMpHmA. 
Sepals yellow, concealing the much smaller (yellow) petals . . 2. NUPHAR, 
I NYMPHASA. NYMPHAIA. 
Sepals about 4, like the outer petals, but greenish outside. Carpels 
numerous, imbedded in the thick receptacle so as to form as many cells, 
radiating from a common centre, whilst the petals and stamens are attached 
to the outside of the receptacle, nearly as high as the top of the cells. 
Stigmas as many as the cells, radiating on the surface of the ovary, each 
one extended into an erect, incurved, linear appendage, whilst the centre of 
the flower is occupied by the small conical summit of the receptacle. Fruit 
slightly pulpy, indehiscent. 
This genus, generally spread over the globe, includes the greater number | 
of the species of the Order, with white, blue, or red flowers. 
1. N. alba, Linn. (fig. 34). White Waterlily.—Leaves deeply cordate, 
glabrous, usually about 6 or 8 inches in diameter. Flowers lying on the 
surface of the water, white, scentless, usually 3 to 4 inches in diameter. 
In lakes or still waters, and slow rivers, extending all over Europe and 
northern and Central Asia, although absent from particular localities. 
Generally distributed in Britain. /V. swmmer. Smaller flowered states 
occur, and several varieties have been distinguished by minute but uncertain 
characters, in the forms of the anthers and stigmatic appendages. 
Il. NUPHAR. NUPHAR. 
Sepals about 5 or 6, concave, yellow, much larger than the outer petals. 
Carpels numerous, and radiating as in Nymphea, but united into an ovary, 
raised on the top of the receptacle, and not imbedded in it. Stigmas as 
many as the cells, their appendages united into a flat disk upon which the 
stigmas themselves radiate. ; 
The genus, besides the European species, comprises but two North American 
ones. 
1, NW. luteum, Sm. (fig. 35). Yellow Waterlily.—lLeaves very nearly 
as in Nymphea alba. Flowers yellow, raised two or three inches above the 
