NELITX'BO, Ns/with/um, a genus of aquatic plants similar to water-lilies, and often included under that name, as well as by some botanists in the natural order siymph,creteece (q.v.); although by others constituted into a distinct order, netumbittem, differing in the want of albumen in the seed, and in the distinct carpels, which are one-seeded, and buried in the cavities of a large fleshy receptacle; which eventually becomes a broad hard bed, full of holes, with the large seeds half buried in them. The flowers and leaves are very similar to those of water-lilies. The species are few, and are found in the warm parts of Asia. in the n. of Africa, and in North America. They are all distin guished by the beauty of their flowers. .11: speciosum is the EGYPTIAN BEAN of Pythag oras, the lotus (q,v.) of the Hindus, held sacred by them and by the people of 'Tibet. It is also much esteemed and cultivated in China, and elsewhere in the e., for its seeds, roots, leaf-stalks, and flower-stalks, all of which are eaten. It has been used as food by
the Egyptians from remote antiquity. The seeds are in size and shape like acorns, with a taste more delicate that that of almonds. The root contains much starch, and Chinese arrowroot is said to be obtained from it. Slices of it are often served up at table in China. Great quantities arc pickled with salt and vinegar, and eaten with rice. The powdered root makes excellent soup with water or milk. The flowers are generally rose colored, seldom white. The ancient Egyptian mode of sowing this plant, by inclosing each seed in a ball of clay and throwing it into the Water, is practiced at the present day in luteum is a North American species, extending almost as far north as Philadelphia; with yellow flowers. The seeds are sought after by children and by Indians, and the farinaceous roots are agreeable when boiled.