PROPAGATION OF WILD-DUCK FOODS. 85 
THE WATERLILY GROUP. 
The waterlily group as represented in the United States is vari- 
ously considered to comprise from one to three families. One of the 
three families (Cabombacese) is distinguished by having the seeds 
borne separately, each with its own closely fitting covering; these 
plants have small uncleft circular Or oval leaves on central stalks. 
The second family (Nelumbonacese) has the large acornlike seeds in 
open cavities in a thick funnel-shaped receptacle ; these plants have 
large uncleft circular leaves on central stalks. The third, or water- 
lily, family (Nympheacese) has the numerous seeds entirely inclosed 
in a fleshy, leathery, urn-shaped fruit; the leaves of these water- 
lilies are cleft from the edge to the point of attachment of the leaf 
stalk. 
The Cabombacese include two plants of the United States, only 
one of which is known to have noteworthy value as a wild-duck food. 
This is the water shield (Brasenia schreheri, known also as B. peltata, 
and B. purpurea) , which is found in ponds and slow streams through- 
out the United States. Other vernacular names for this plant are 
frogleaf and little waterlily. The seeds only are eaten, but they have 
been found in the stomachs of 19 species of ducks, including the wood 
duck, Florida duck, mallard, black duck, buffle-head, golden-eye, pin- 
tail, ruddy duck, widgeon, lesser and greater scaups or bluebills, red- 
head, ring-necked duck, canvas-back, green-winged and blue-winged 
teals, white-winged and surf scoters, and shoveller. No fewer than 
120 seeds of water shield were found in a single stomach of a mallard, 
and 380 in one of a wood duck. 
The family of nelumbos, or lotuses, has only one native species 
(Nelumbo lutea) in the United States, and it is locally distributed 
almost throughout the eastern half of the country. This plant has 
a variety of vernacular names, among which are water chinkapin, 
wankapin, yankapin, duck acorn, rattle or water nut, and yawknut, 
and, among the French-speaking people of Louisiana, vole and 
grand ovale. Locally it has considerable repute as a food for wild 
ducks, especially the wood duck. 
The third, or waterlily, family consists of two genera, the cow- 
lilies or spatterdocks (Nymphcea) and the true waterlilies (Oas- 
talia. The name Nymphcea long was applied to the latter group 
and is yet by some authorities. It is customarily used in this sense 
also in trade publications. The spatterdocks have yellow flowers 
with five or six leathery sepals, and the petals though numerous 
are inconspicuous. The waterlilies, on the other hand, have numerous 
conspicuous petals, which in our species are white, pink, blue-striped, 
blue, or yellow. 
