circle, but the bases of the sides not unfrequently overlap.
Stipules adnate nearly throughout, rounded at the end. Peduncles
very nearly always confined to the axils of the floating
leaves (not as in R. floribundus and R. heterophyllus from
those of both kinds of leaves), narrowing gradually from their
base to the flower, rising high out of the water, very long.
Flowers very large, sweet-scented. Sepals ovate, greenish,
with a diaphanous edge. Petals quite contiguous, but separating
slightly as the flowers advance by the lengthening of
the lower part, white, but the base and claw yellow, even at
first more than twice as long as the calyx, with 9 (rarely
more) veins. Nectary ovate-oblong, with an equally elevated
margin all round. Stamens about 30. Style short, recurved,
papillose. Carpels compressed, rounded on the back, very
blunt; inner edge straight. Receptacle small, ovate-oblong.
The very long, slender, and very gradually and uniformly
narrowing peduncles combined with the rounded lateral bases
of the convex scarcely trifid leaves, the ovate-oblong nectary,
contiguous petals, and broadly topped carpels seem to distinguish
this beautiful plant from its allies.
Very often this species is called R. heterophyllus, but it only
requires familiarity with the plants to see their difference,
although it is not easy to point it out in words. In all genera
where there are many nearly allied species, this difficulty must
arise. Those who hold that species are very few in number consider
this as a proof that the many allied forms only constitute
one species, which is simply a matter of opinion, incapable of
proof by the holders of either view. As it seems desirable to
place before botanists good figures of the allied Water-Crowfoots,
we have thought it well to publish several of them in
this work.
R. peltatus is not very common in England, and does not
seem to be much known on the Continent. I have some
slight doubt concerning the identity of Boreau’s R. peltatus
with our plant. I have seen specimens from Monmouthshire,
Gloucestershire, Middlesex, Essex, Warwickshire, Norfolk,
and from “ the Devon near Dollar ” in Scotland. It flowers
through most of the summer. Those figured were gathered
in Hampstead Well pond, on June 24, 1862, by the Rev. W.
W. Newbould and Mr. J. W. Salter, and they inform me that
it is abundant at Wimbledon and Finchley.—C. C. B.