NYMPHAEA 
483 
bottle; N. pumilum DC. is also found in Brit. The vegetative habit 
is that of Nymphaea (q.v.). The fir. projects a little above the water, 
and is fully hypogynous. At the base of the peduncle is a rudimen- 
tary bract. There are 5 large coloured outer perianth leaves, quin- 
cuncial, the fourth being anterior. Within these are the ‘petals,’ 13 
in number arranged in a 5/13 spiral. Then follow 00 sta., the outer 13 
alternating with the petals, the next 13 with them, and so on in a 
spiral. In the centre is the superior gynoeceum, syncarpous, with 
10 — 16 loculi. Stigmas, ovules, &c., as in Nymphaea. The fruit is a 
large berry ; it breaks off from the stalk and splits up into separate 
cpls. The seeds have no aril like those of Nymphaea, but the slimy 
pericarp contains air bubbles: the seeds are set free by its gradual 
decay, and sink to the bottom. 
Nuttallia Torr. et Gray. Rosaceae (v. 12). 1 sp. N. W. Am. Like 
Prunus, but with 5 free cpls. 
Nyctaginaceae. Dicotyledons (Archichl. Centrospermae). 20 gen. 
with 160 sp., mostly trop. and esp. Am. Trees, shrubs or herbs with 
opp. (often unequal) leaves and no stipules. Firs, in cymes, g or 
unisexual, and presenting much variety in structure. At the base of 
the firs, are usually several bracts, often large and coloured. In 
Bougainvillaea 3 large conspicuous bracts enclose a group of 3 firs. 
In Abronia the number of bracts and firs, is larger, while in Mirabilis 
there is only one fir. and the involucre resembles a calyx. P usually 
(5), petaloid, persistent upon the ripe fruit; usually the upper part 
drops away and the fruit remains in the lower part, which is termed the 
anthocarp, and may become glandular, or form an umbrella-like wing, 
or otherwise serve for seed-dispersal. Sta. typically 5, alt. with the 
perianth, but often 3, 8, 10 or other numbers, or raised to 20 or 30 
by branching ; filaments often of unequal length. Ovary of 1 cpl., 
superior, with a long style and 1 basal erect ana-campylotropous 
ovule. Fruit an achene enclosed in the perianth. The N. are of 
slight economic value; see Mirabilis, Neea, &c. 
Classification and chief genera after Heimerl) : 
A. Ovary glabrous : style present; sta. 1 — 30. 
1. Mii'abileae (perianth enlarging after fertilisation; shrubs and 
herbs; g )• Mirabilis, Allionia, Bougainvillaea, Abronia. 
2. Pisonieae (as 1 but shrubs and trees; 1 -sexual): Pisonia, Neea. 
3. Boldoeae (perianth not enlarging ; herbs; $): Boldoa. 
B. Ovary hairy; no style : sta. 2 — 3. 
4. Leucastereae : Leu caster, Reichenbachia. 
[Placed in Curvembryae by Benth.-Hooker and Warming. See 
art. Caryophyllaceae for relationships.] 
Nyctagineae (Benth.-Hooker) = Nyctaginaceae. 
Nycterinia D. Don = Zaluzianskya F. W. Schmidt. 
Nymphaea (Tourn.) Linn. (Castalia Salisb.). Nymphaeaceae (in). 32 
sp. trop. and temp. N, alba L., the white water-lily, in Brit. Many 
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