THE WATER BEAN FAMILY. 



527 



China, where it is extensively cultivated. It is held sacred 

 by the Hindoos, who prepare a kind of wick from the spiral 

 vessels of the leafstalk for burning before their idols. The 

 flowers are generally finely tinged with pink, bnt there is a 

 variety with white flowers. 



Nelumhium Caspicum^ a native of the regions of the 

 Caspian, is probably only a variety ; as also N. luteum, a 

 native of Jamaica, the Malay Islands, and parts of the Ame- 

 rican continent, diifering only in the colour of their flowers 

 being yellow. All have large showy flowers, and are culti- 

 vated at Kew. Their leaves have the curious property of 

 repelling water, which runs ofl" of them hke quicksilver. 



In alliance with the two preceding famihes are the water- 

 shields, CahomhacecG, consisting of 2 species of Cahomha^ na- 

 tives of North America, and Hydropeltis purpurea, a plant 

 of wide geographical range, being found in North America, 

 Himalayas and Australia. They are water-plants with small 

 shield-like floating leaves, and finely-cut submerged ones. 

 They dilFer from NympJicBaceoe, and Nelumhiacecd in their 

 flowers being small and axillary. 



