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The flower resembles a semi-double tuiip in form. 



more inches in diameter, resembling the rose-nozzle of a 

 sprinkling can. This resemblance is heightened by the presence 

 of about two dozen stigmas arranged in concentric circles. The 

 stigmas are tiny knobs in the flower but in fruit are reduced to 

 pits or crater-like openings, within each of which is a single 

 nut-like seed or chinquapin. These become almost loose enough 

 to drop out when dry. When ripe and dry this entire fruit, 

 now about double its size in the flower, makes an odd-shaped 

 rattle-box which curves over on its stem and nods toward the 

 water. Later it falls off and floats head downward on the 

 water and scatters the seeds as it floats, a novel method of seed 

 dissemination. In the Orient the seeds are planted by being- 

 wrapped in a handful of clay to serve as ballast and dropped 

 where they are wanted tO' grow. This was the method in vogue 

 along the Nile in the days of Herodotus and is still practiced in 

 India and China. - 



