Tff.i.AKfliA NYMPHOIDES. NYMPHÆA-LIKE
VILLARSIA.
VlLLARSlAnymphoides ; foliis cordatis orbiculatis natantibus, floribus umbellatis, corollis ciliatis. Vent.
VILLARSIA nymphoides. Vent. Choir, n. 9- p- 2. Decani. Fl. Fr. ed. 3. vol. 9. p. 648. FI. Gall.
Syn. p. 243. Rcem. et Schultz. Syst. Veg. ml. 4. p. 178.
MENYANTHES nymphoides. Linn. Sp. PI. p. 207. Huds. A ngl.p. 85. With. Bot. A r r . ed. 4.
ml. 2. p. 231. (Ed. FI. Dan. t. 339. Hoffm. Germ. ed. 2. ml. 1 . P. I. p. 96.
Willd. Sp. PI. vol. 2. p. 810. Smith FI. B rit, p 226. Engl. Bot. t. 217. Pers.
Syn. PL ml. 1. p. 171. A it. Hort. Keto. ed. 2. ml. 1. p. 312.
NYMPHiEA lutea minor, flore fimbriato. The lesser yellow Water-Lily with a fringed flower. Raii
Syn. p. 368.
Class a n d Or d e r . PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA,;
[N a tu r a l Or d e r . G EN T IA N EÆ, Decand. LYSIMACHIIS AFFINIS, Juss. GENT IANE IS AF-
FIN IS , Br.] $
G e n . Ch a r . Calyx quinque-partitus, persistais. Corolla rotata, limbo sæpius ciliato. Stylus brevissimus. Capsula
uni-locularis, bi-valvis (in aquaticis evalvis, B r .) valvularum marginibus incrassatis. Receptaculum in su-
turis capsulæ. Semina duplici serie longitudinaliter digesta, margine membranaceo cincla. Vent.
Ge n . Ch a r . Calyx five-partite, persistent. Corolla rotate, with the,limb often ciliated. Style very short. Capsule
one-celled, two-valved (in the aquatic species valveless, Br.), with the margins o f the valves incrassated.
Receptacle along the suture o f the capsule. Seeds collected longitudinally in a double row, and surrounded by
a membranaceous margin. Vent.
Caules longissimi, flagelliformes, teretes, flexuosi, rain
osi, hie illic fibres praelongas simplices albidas
emittentes.
F olia plerumque fasciculata, natantia, cordata, rotun-
data, lobis obtusis ; supra viridia, Ice via, nitida,
v enosa; subtus purpurascentia, punctata, avenia,
margine repanda, vixdentata; petioli longiusculi,
teretes, basi insigniter dilatati, concavi, vagi-
nati, punctis elevatis adspersi.
P e d u n c u l i ex axillis foliorum, fasciculati, simplices,
tri- vel quadri-unciales, teretes, uniflori.
F lores magni, speciosi, aurei.
Caly x profunde quinque-partitus, laciniis erecto-paten-
. tibqs, lanceolatis, acutis.
Corolla rotata; tubo brevi, intus parce piloso, basi
fasciculis quinque pilorum instructo; laciniis
ovato-rotundatis undulatis, patentibus; disco ob-
longo, elevato; marginibus pulcherrime ciliatis.
St am in a quinque, tubo corollas inserta; Filamenta
brevia, tubo adnata; Antheros sagittatas, flavas.
P istillum tubo corolla* longius; Germen ovatum,
basi glandulis quinque flavis; Stylus crassus ;
Stigma bi-trifidura ; laciniis incisis.
Stems very long, flagelliform, terete, flexuose, branched,
here and there throwing out very long, simple,
white fibres.
Leaves generally in fascicles, »natant, cordate, rounded,
with the lobes obtuse; above green, smooth, shining,
veined; beneath purplish, dotted, veinless,
with the'margin repand, scarcely toothed ; petioles
rather long, terete, remarkably dilated at
the base, concave, sheathed, marked with elevated
points on small tubercles.
P e d u n c le s springing from the axils o f the leaves, fasciculated,
simple, three or four inches long,
rounded, single-flowered.
F lowers large, showy, bright yellow.
Ca l y x deeply five-partite, with the segments erecto-
patent, lanceolate, acute.
Corolla rotate; with the tube short, slightly hairy
within, furnished at the base with five bundles
o f ha irs; the segments ovato-rotundate, waved
patent, having the disc oblong, elevated, and the
margins beautifully ciliated.
Stam e n s five, inserted into the tube of the corolla; Filaments
short, adnate with the tube ; Anthers
sagittate, yellow.
Pi s t il longer than the tube of the corolla; Germen
ovate,, with five yellow glands at the base; Style
thick; Stigmabi-trifid, with the segments divided.
Fig. l. Corolla laid open to show the situation of the stamens, and the fascicles of hairs alternating with them.
Fig. 2. Calyx and pistil, Fig. 3. Stamen before the bursting of the cells of the anther. Fig. 4 . Stamen
after the bursting of the cells. Fig. 5. Pistil, with the glands at the base. Fig. 6. Section of the germen, to
show the situation of its ovules. Fig. 7. Cluster of hairs, from between the filaments of the stamens:—all
■magnified.
This plant is a beautiful and rather unfrequent inhabitant of lakes, canals, and slow streams of rivers, in various
parts of England, principally the midland and southern counties. We have gathered it abundantly in the canal
between Wisbech and Downham-Market, Norfolk, and in the lesser tributary rivulets to the Thames. I t has never
been found in Scotland, or further north than Castle Howard, Yorkshire, although it does not appear that the climate
of that country would be inimical to its growth, as the rapidity of its increase, wherever planted, renders it a
very troublesome weed. In the botanic garden at Glasgow, whence the present specimen was brought, the Fringed
Villarsia has thriven and increased to such a degree, as to choke and destroy many more delicate aquatics, and
to render its own eradication nearly, impossible.
I t flowers in the months of June and July. The canals in Holland are bordered and decorated for miles with
the lovely blossoms of the Villarsia nymphoides, wreathed, in the greatest profusion, with those of the White and
Yellow Water-lilies.
Doubtless, as a genus, the Villarsia approaches very near to Menyanthes, differing, as Mr. Brown observes, principally
in the want of the longitudinally bearded disk of the segments of the corolla, in the ciliated margin, and simple
leaves. All the species, however, of this genus, and there are several, have a very natural habit, and an aspect
remarkably different from Menyanthes, which now contains but one species. If we were to be guided by priority
of date, in bestowing a name, I fear that Villarsia must give place to Linthemum, which Sir James E. Smith’ tells
us was established for this plant, by Gmclin, so long ago as 1769. Wiggers, again, applied to it, in 1780, the
appellation of Waldschmidia, and Ventenat, in his Choir de Plantes, tab. 9, instituted the genus Villarsia for the
Menyanthes avata, and its allies; in doing which he has been followed, amongst other authors, by our countryman
Brown. Thus, although in strict justice this genus should bear another name, yet it would seem that
Villarsia bids fair to keep its ground.
. The ripe fruit of this plant I have not myself seen. In the advanced germen there is certainly no appearance
of a suture, which seems to confirm Mr. Brown’s observation that the aquatic species of this genus are valveless;
notwithstanding that Ventenat, who knew only the aquatic species (two), affirms that the seeds are collected in two
rows at the margin of the valves.
168