POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
1 
Bacca multilocularis, 
polysperma. 
1. Odorata. 
N. foliis orbiculato- 
cordatis, integerrim- 
is, subemarginatis, lo- 
bis divaricatis, acu- 
mine obtuso; petalis 
calcyi 4-phyllo sequal- 
ibus; stigmate radiis 
16-24 erectis. Sp. pi. 
2. p. 1153. 
Pursh. 2. p. 368. 
Nymphaea alba. Walt. p. 
ry in the middle. 
Berry many celled, 
many seeded. 
Leaves orbiculate 
cordate, entire, slight- 
ly emarginate, the 
lobes divaricate, with 
their points obtuse ; 
petals as long as the 
4-leaved calyx; stig- 
ma erect, with 16 — • 
24 rays. 
Mich. 1. p. 311. 
Hoot perennial, creeping, tuberous, nodose and woody. Stem 0. 
Heaves on the summit of long, smooth, somewhat spiral petioles 1 — 6 feet 
long (so as to support the leaf always on the surface of the water , ) pel- 
tate-cordate, circular in its outline, slightly emarginate, coriaceous, glab- 
rous; dotted and strongly veined and generally coloured underneath. Pc- 
duncles , like the petioles, spiral, rising to the surface of the water, bearing 
one terminal flower. Calyx 4-leaved, leaflets lanceolate, coriaceous, gla- 
brous. Petals about 30, large lanceolate, somewhat obtuse, very white. 
Filaments very numerous, the exterior ones larger, lanceolate, slightly 
acuminate. Anthers attached to the margins of the filaments. Germ 
thick, somewhat cylindrical. Style none. Stigma large, concave, yel- 
low, bearing a globular nectary in the centre, with the margin radiated, 
and the rays linear, incurved. Fruit a rude berry, many celled. Seed 
small, oval, numerous in each cell. 
The number of cells in the berry, is, I believe, always equal to the 
number of rays in the stigma, it might therefore be considered a polygy- 
nous plant with the stigmas firmly united. 
The flowers of this plant are among the most ornamental in our coun- 
try. The white petals, and the yellow stamens and stigma, are all con- 
spicuous from the brilliancy of their colors. When recently gathered, 
they are fragrant ; but the odour in a short time becomes strong and dis- 
agreeable. 
Grows every where in shallow stagnant or slowly running streams of 
fresh water. 
Flowers March to October. 
