126 
as well as the roots. The ancients record the sinking of the 
flower under water at night. It is conceived that this flower 
became sacred to superstitious veneration in Egypt in conse- 
quence of its resemblance to the true East Indian Lotos or Ne- 
lumbo ; the latter, from its mode of vegetation, was adopted in the 
most remote ages to serve as an emblem of fertility. It seems 
therefore a sort of substitute or type, and strengthens the theory 
of the mythology of Egypt having migrated thither from India. 
The Nelumbo was brought to Egypt, but has never perpetuated 
itself there to any great extent. 
Egyptian Lotos. Fl. June, Sep. Clt. 1802. PI. fit. 
12 N. ruerma'tis (D. C. syst. 2. p. 54.) leaves peltate, 
sharply-toothed, glabrous on both surfaces; auricles approxi- 
mate. w.S.W. Native of Croatia in the hot river called 
Pecze, in water 19-28 degrees of Reaum. Therm. not far from 
Varasdin. N. Lotus, Wald. et Kit. hung. 1. p. 13. t. 15.? 
Sims, bot. mag. .t. 792. Castalia mystica, Sal. parad. no. 14. 
Flowers white, having a somewhat vinous odour. 
Hot-water Water Lily. Fl. in its native country from the end 
of April; in England from June to Sept. Clt. 1802. PI. fit. 
13 N. amera (D. C, syst. 2. p. 54.) leaves peltate, sharply- 
toothed, quite glabrous on both surfaces, with the nerves on the 
under surface very prominent. 1. S. W. Native of Jamaica, 
St. Domingo, Gulph of Mexico about Vera Cruz, Guiana, &c. in 
tranquil water. Castalia ámpla, Sal. ann. bot. 2. p. 73. par. no. 
14. N. Lotus, Aubl. guian. 1. p. 533. Flowers white. 
Var. B, Rudgeana (Meyer. prim. esseq. p. 198.) This plant 
is distinguished from N. Lotus by the leaves being minutely tu- 
bercled on the upper surface. 
Ample-leaved Water Lily. Fl. June, Sept. Clt.? Pl. fit. 
14 N. versicotor (Roxb. hort. beng. p. 41.) leaves peltate, 
with the margin and between the recesses sinuately-toothed, full 
of pustules, glabrous on both surfaces. %. S.W. Native of 
Bengal in tranquil water. Sims, bot. mag. 1189. Flowers white, 
changing to red, and several of the outer petals are green, and 
furrowed on the back with green lines. This plant is multiplied 
by the tubers, which hang by a thread from the main root, which 
are about the size of a nut, and fall off from the mother plant 
with the fading of the leaves. 
_ Party-coloured Water Lily. Fl. in England from July to Sept. 
in Bengal throughout the year. Clt. 1807. Pl. fit. 
Secr. III. Casra‘t1a (Castalia, a fountain in Asia in the sub- 
urbs of Daphne.) D. C. syst. 2. p. 55. prod. 1.p.115. Anthers 
not drawn out at the apex. Flowers white. Leaves cordate, 
not peltate, glabrous, quite entire. 
15 N. rentro’rmis (Walt. fl. carol. 155.) leaves kidney- 
shaped, stigmas 16-rayed. YY. G. W. Native of Carolina. 
Nelambium reniforme, Willd. spec. 2. p- 1260. Cyamus reni- 
formis, Pursh. fl. amer. sept. 2. p. 398.—Deless. icon. sel. 2. t. 
5. Flowers white, a little larger than those of N. álba ; anthers 
yellow, as in the rest of this section. 
Kidney-shaped-leaved Water Lily. Fl. July. Clt. 1823. Pl. fit. 
16 N. a'rBa (Lin. spec. 729.) leaves cordate, quite entire ; 
stigmas 16-rayed ; rays ascending. Y.H. W. Native through- 
out Europe in ditches, lakes, and rivers; plentiful in Britain. 
Smith engl. bot. 160. Fl. dan. 602. Schkuhr. handb. 2. t. 142, &e. 
Castalia specidsa, Sal. ann. bot. 2. p. 72. Seeds horizontal or 
deflexed ; obovate, red. According to Linnzeus, the flowers of 
this plant raise themselves out of the water, and expand about 
7 o'clock in the morning, and close again, reposing upon the 
surface of the water, about 4 o'clock in the evening. The roots 
have a bitter astringent taste; they are used in Ireland, in the 
highlands of Scotland, and in the island of Jura, &c. to dye a dark 
brown or chesnut colour. Swine are said to eat it; kine and 
horses to refuse it. The flower, herb, and roots were formerly 
NYMPHIACE#. 
IV. NYMPHÆA. 
used in medicine, but are now become obsolete. It was reputed 
by the ancients as an antiphrodisiac, and as a remedy in dysen- 
tery, and some other morbid discharges ; to the latter purpose 
its astringency might in some instances make it well suited. 
Var. B, minor (Besl. hort. eyst. vern. ord. VII. t. 3. f.1, 
Weim. phyt. 3. p. 456. t. 761. f. c.) Y. H. W. Native of 
Alsace near Argentina ; in Baden near Linkenheim, and Moscow 
near Gorenki. Every part of this plant is smaller than in the 
species. 
Common White Water Lily. Fl. June, July. Britain. Pl. fit 
17 N. opora'ta (Ait. hort. kew. ed. 1. vol. 2. p. 227. ed. 2 
vol. 3. p. 292.) leaves cordate, quite entire, with the nerves and 
veins on the under surface very prominent; stigmas 16-20-rayed; 
rays erect, inflexed at the top. %. H.W. Native of North 
America from Canada to Carolina ; about Philadelphia at Glo- 
cester Point and in New Jersey ; abundant about Quebec ; in deep 
ditches and slow running rivers. Sims, bot. mag. t. 819. Andr. 
bot. rep. t. 297. Bigel. amer. med. bot. t. 55. N. alba, Walt. fl. 
carol. 155. This plant is very like N. alba, and has by many 
authors been confounded with it, but it is truly distinct. Flowers 
white, tinged with red, sweet-scented, expanding in the morning, 
but closing after meridian. The roots of this plant are amongst 
the strongest astringents of North America. When fresh, if 
chewed in the mouth, they are extremely stiptic and bitter. 
Their decoction instantly strikes a jet black colour with sulphate 
of iron, and yields a dense white precipitate to a solution of 
gelatin. Tannin and gallic acid are to be considered its most 
characteristic ingredients. The roots of this plant are kept by 
most of the apothecaries in North America, and are much u 
by the common people in the composition of poultices. They 
are no doubt often injudiciously applied to suppurate tumors, 
since their astringency must be rather a discutient than a promo- 
tive of suppuration. They are occasionally used by physicians 
in cases where astringent applications are requisite, and answer 4 
purpose somewhat analogous to that of lead poultices and alum 
curds. The whole of the genus possess the same qualities. - 
Sweet-scented Water Lily. Fl. June, July. Clt. 1786. Pl. fit, 
18 N. minor (D. C. syst. 2. p. 58.) leaves cordate, quite en- 
tire, with the nerves and veins very prominent on the under sun 
face ; peduncles and petioles rather purplish and rather pilose; 
stigmas 16-20-rayed. 2%. H. W. Native of North Americ 
about New York and in Canada. N. odorata 8B minor, Sims, bot. 
mag. t. 1652. P, rosea, Pursh, fl. bor. amer. 2. p. 368. Flowers 
white, smaller than those of N. odoràta, rose-coloured on 
outside. 
Smaller-flowered Water Lily. FI. July. Clt. 1812. pi. fit. 
19 N. nr'ripa (Sims, bot. mag. t. 1359.) leaves cordate, qute 
entire; nerves not prominent on the under surface; petiole 
smooth ; petals blunt ; stigmas 12-20-rayed. X. H. W. Ne 
tive of Siberia in lakes and in the river Lena, and in Dauria 1 
still water. N. odorata, Willd. hort. berl. t. 39. Like N 
odorata and N. alba. Root perpendicular. Flowers white, 
scentless, a little smaller than those of the above named species. 
Stamens yellow. 
Shining-leaved Water Lily. Fl. June, July. Clt. 1809. Pl. ft 
20 N. pycmæa (Ait. hort. kew. ed. 2. vol. 3. p. 293.) leaves 
cordate, quite entire ; nerves not prominent ; petioles smoo% 
petals acute ; stigmas 8-rayed. 4%. H. W. Native of China 
and eastern Siberia. Sims, bot. mag. 1525. Castalia pygme % 
Sal. parad. t. 68. Flowers white, smelling like those of Polian- 
thus tuberdsus. A small plant. Torus greenish-yellow. 
Pygmy Water Lily. FI. June, Sep. Clt. 1805. PI. fit. 
21 N. sia’npa (Meyer prim. fl. esseq. p. 201.) leaves cordate, 
quite entire, with the nerves on the under surface channel 2 
petals 16, acuminated. %.S. W. Native of Essequibo, m 
stagnant and slow running water. N. glandulifera, Rodsch. © 
