NIGELLA 
481 
Nephrodium Rich. Polypodiaceae. 250 sp. cosmop. There are 7 
Brit, sp., often classed under Aspidium or Lastrea. N. has kidney- 
shaped indusia, while A. has peltate. The best known is N. Filix - 
mas Rich., the common shield-fern. It has a stout, nearly erect 
rhizome with large pinnate leaves. Branches arise on the leaf bases, 
but rarely. N. Filix-?nas var. cristatum Moore exhibits apospory, 
(see Filicineae Leptosporangiatae). 
Nephrolepis Schott. Polypodiaceae. 7 sp. trop. They produce 
runners like Strawberry, but not axillary, which take root and give 
rise to new plants. 
Nephthytis Schott. Araceae (vi). 2 sp. trop. W. Afr. 
Neptunia Lour. Leguminosae (1. 4). 8 sp. trop. and subtrop. N. 
oleracea Lour, is found in hot-houses. It has a floating stem, rooting 
at the nodes, and covered by a curious aerenchyma tissue (p. 161). 
The leaves are sensitive like those of Mimosa. The firs, are in heads, 
the lower ones being S , or neuter with petaloid staminodes. 
Nerine Herb. Amaryllidaceae (1). 10 sp. Cape Colony. 
Nerium Linn. Apocynaceae (11. 4). 3 sp. Medit. to Japan. N. \ Oh - 
under L. is the oleander. It has curious pits on the lower surface 
of the evergreen leaves, in which the stomata are sunk (several in 
each) and covered with hairs, thus reducing transpiration. The firs, 
are suited to long-tongued moths. 
Nertera Banks et Soland. Rubiaceae (11. 17). 6 sp. Andes, N. Z., 
Austr., Sandw. Is., Malaya. 
Nesaea Comm, ex Juss. Lythraceae. 27 sp. Afr., Austr., As., N. Am, 
Neslla Desv. Cruciferae (iv. 14). 1 sp. Eur., As. 
Nestlera Spreng. Compositae (iv). 10 sp. Cape Colony. 
Neurada Linn. Rosaceae (iv. 1 1). 1 sp. Medit. to E. Ind. 
Nicandra Adans. Solanaceae (1). 1 sp. Peru, N. physaloides Gaertn. 
Ovary divided in an irregular way by the placentae. Berry nearly 
juiceless and with 00 seeds, enclosed in the enlarged calyx. 
Nicotiana Linn. Solanaceae (iv). 40 sp. Am., Polynes., 1 Austr. 
N. Tabacum L., cult, in warm countries, is the tobacco; the leaves 
are gathered and slowly dried, then packed in heaps and lermented 
slightly. N . rustica L. and others, are also used. 
Nidularium Lem. = Karatas Adans. 
Nierembergia Ruiz et Pav. Solanaceae (iv). 20 sp. extratrop. Am. 
Nigella (Tourn.) Linn. Ranunculaceae (2). 16 sp. Medit., often culti- 
vated as ornamental plants (love-in-a-mist, devil-in-a-bush). Annual 
herbs. Alternating with the calyx is an involucre of 5 leaves. Within 
the coloured calyx are 5 — 8 nectaries, curious pocket-like structures 
with lids which prevent small insects from reaching the honey. The 
cpls. are more or less completely united but have separate styles ; 
they give rise to a capsular fruit. The flr. is protandrous ; the styles 
at first stand straight up out of reach of the sta., but later on bend 
downwards over the nectaries. 
