12 
and last being separated (at their einboucliures) by thirty-five 
degrees of longitude, we must conclude that this magnificent 
Water-Lily is, like the generality of Aquatics, a plant of wide dis¬ 
tribution, and probably a not uncommon inhabitant of the still 
waters of all those great rivers which intersect the immense 
plains eastward of the Andes. 
“ I had an opportunity of experiencing the fragrance of the flowers. Those I 
collected for preserv-ing in spirits were unexpanded, but on the point of opening; 
on arriving at the Government House, in the town, I deposited them in my 
room, and returning after dark, I found to my surprise that all had blowm 
and were exhaling a most delightful odour, which at first I compared to a rich 
Pine-apple, afterwards to a Melon, and then to the Cher'moya ; but indeed it 
resembled none of these fruits, and I at length came to the decision that it was 
a most delicious scent, mdike every other, and peculiar to the noble flower that 
produced it. 
“ The calyx is green, darker than the leaves, as is the seed-vessel. 
“ With the assistance of the Indians we got out of the water two entire plants, 
and from their appearance I should say the Victoria is decidedly perennial. Each 
plant had from twenty to thirty foot-stalks of flowers and leaves, in all stages; 
some nearly decayed to the base, others half-way down the stem, whilst others 
had just lost the floating portion. The same was obsen ed in the petioles; some 
bearing the seed-vessel perfect, with ripe seed; others the expanded flow'er; and 
near the crown or centre of the plant was just issuing the tender flow'er-bud. 
With a knife we cut or trimmed the foot-stalks, when the trunk (if I may use 
the comparison) somewhat resembled a Zamia, and in length was about eighteen 
inches or twn feet. At the base and between each foot-stalk protrudes a mass or 
cluster of fleshy, hollow roots, about the size of a straw, or larger, and varying 
in colour from brown to white, or nearly so; a succession of these roots is 
formed, as the new leaves are thrown out from the eentre of the plant; nature 
having made a beautiful and wise provision for this plant, as in all her other 
w orks. The base of the trunk, or rather stem, situated in the soft mud, appears 
to deeompose in proportion as new leaves and flowers issue from the centre, 
keeping the plant from elevating itself above water, which but for such an 
arrangement, might be the case, from the rapidity of its growth. 
“ From what I observed of the nature and habits of this most interesting plant, 
I conclude that it cannot and does not exist in any of the rivers, where the immense 
rise and fall, of twenty feet, would leave it dry, during many months of the year, 
especially in the season when there is no rain. The lagoons, being subject to 
bttle variation in the height of their waters, are the places w'here it '^ows in all 
its beauty and grandeur. 
“ The Victoria appears to delight in parts of the lake fully exposed to tlie 
sun, and I observed that it did not exist where the trees overshaded the margins. 
“The vegetation surrounding the locality of the Victoria was not of that 
splendid character that I could have wished. It wanted those noble Palms, the 
Mutacu and Palma real, which so beautifully adorn the banks of the IMamore, 
to have made a perfect and enchanting picture with the Victoria in the waters! 
The trees belonged to genera new to me and peculiar to this level part of the 
country. Amongst the shrubs I observed two species oi Bauhinia, nnA a fine 
piuple-flowered Bignonia, climbing even to the summit of the trees.” 
Thomas Bridges. 
Prospect Place, Bristol. December, 16th. 1846. 
