BOTANICAE INDEX 
7 
NUPHAB BALM I UM. Pursh. 
A miniature variety, with leaves submerged and floating, small, delicate, fleshy 
and oval ; sinus narrow, so that the lobes nearly meet; leaves from 1£ to 3 inches 
broad; flowers globular, small, only from 1 to 1J inches broad ; sepals, 5. 
NUPHAB LUTEUM. Smith. 
Leaves large, cordate, oval, pointed, submerged and floating; leaf-stock angular, 
especially on the upper part ; flowers expanding, fully 5 inch, across ; sepals, 5, obtuse. 
NUPHAB POLYSEPALUM. Engelmann. 
Flowers very large, and numerous sepals. 
NUPHAB PUMILUM. Smith. 
Another dwarf or miniature species. Leaves submerged and floating, only about 
one inch in diameter ; flowers small, only from one-half to one inch broad when open. 
NUPHAB SAGITT I FOLIUM. Pcrsh. 
Leaves submerged and floating, long, thin, cordate, obtuse, sagittate, smooth ; 
lobes at the base expanding, from 10 to 15 inches long and 2 inches broad; earlier 
leaves produced under water, and quite thin; flowers globular, 2 inches broad; 
sepals, 6; petals none, being transformed into stamens. 
This is assuming it to be a fact that all the forms heretofore described have sufficient 
specific characters to warrant a separation into distinct species, which, however, is 
quite doubtful; for many botanists consider N. minium , which is found in the north 
of Europe and Asia, only a dwarf and stunted variety of N. luteum ; while N. pumilum, 
from Scotland and north-eastern U. S. A., (from Pennsylvania northward), and N. 
Kalmium ( N . intermedia, Ledeb.) also from north-eastern U. S., are usually considered 
as only varieties of N. luteum , often too obscure to be recognized; and the southern 
form, N. sagittifolium, and western form, X. polysepalum, Prof. Gray says may run 
into N. advena. According to Prof. Gray, (Manual, edition of 1878,) the only known 
American specimen of N. luteum like the European (flowers fully two inches across) 
is from Manayunk, seven miles below Philadelphia, Pa. (We regret not having at 
hand the proper authorities to give the synonyms according to the latest revision, as 
was our original design; but as it is a matter of so much dispute what species are 
valid and which are void, perhaps it is best not to attempt it any further.) N. advena 
also differs very materially in different portions of the country, from the usual pub- 
lished descriptions, and it is a matter of surprise that some of the numerous species 
makers have not before now added a new name to our southern gigantic form. Mrs. 
Treat, in writing of them as she saw them growing in the St. John’s River, Florida, 
says: “ Here they assume gigantic proportions. The leaves measure from 18 to 20 
inches across, and cover the water on either side of the deep channel for the distance 
of a mile or more. The leaves and flowers reach the surface of the water in some 
places from a depth of 10 feet.” 
Let us now examine a single flower in detail, — for all plants are classed by their 
flowers, — and as we have saiil they were inconspicuous and devoid of beauty, we will 
see wherein their interest lies. 
The species are all so near alike that a flower from any one will answer our 
purpose, and as Nuphar advena is the easiest to procure, we will select it as our repre- 
sentative; and as our artist has prepared for us such a perfect picture, Fig. 78, from 
a number of flov T ers collected for his special use, we will now study his picture. We 
have also taken the liberty of copying the figures of enlarged stamens and petals of 
the Nuphar , from Prof. Gray’s “Genera of Plants,” (Plate 44, Vol. 1,) in order to 
more clearly elucidate the subject. In our illustration, Fig. 78, a, we give a profile 
view of an expanded flower, but with one of the sepals removed to show the position 
and form of the petals, stamens, and seed pod, (fruit). Here we find six very unequal 
sepals, or outer leaves of the flower, (some species have only five), the three outer 
ones rounded, green outside except a small portion of the upper border, which, 
together with the inner surface, is bright yellow ; the three inner sepals larger, bright 
yellow both outside and inside. Fig. 78, b, represents the fruit, with the sepals, petals 
and stamens removed. The small diamond-shaped scars at c, indicate the point of 
attachment of the petals and stamens. Fig. 78, d, e, are from Prof. Gray’s excellent 
plates, and represent the petals many times enlarged, showing two views of the same 
object. Fig. 78,/. g, h, are from the same work, and represent an inside view,/, of a 
stamen enlarged; g representing an outside view, while h represents a lateral view 
of the same. The petals, or what answer to petals, are from ten to twenty in number, 
small, thick, fleshy, truncate or scale-like, narrowly oblong, often transformed into 
