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386 KEW GARDEN MUSEUM. 
Ord. NYMPHÆACE®. Warer-Lity FAMILY. 
The large rhizomes, or underground stems, of these aquatics, as well 
as the seeds, if large enough to render them worth the gathering, both 
of which contain a good deal of starch, are esculent, yet rarely used by 
man in a civilized state. In some countries the former (commonly 
called the roots) are turned to good account in feeding swine. But if 
it be a Family deficient in practical utility to man, it holds the first 
rank among plants for the size and beauty, and frequently fragrance, of 
its flowers, and the amplitude of its foliage. These are characters that 
cannot be exhibited in a Museum, where we have, however, in some 
cases, the flowers modelled in wax. 
Victoria Water-Lily. Victoria regia, Lindl. Native of many of the 
still waters of tropical America, east of the Andes. Flowers and fruit 
and young leaf and sections of flowers from the Amazon (Mr. Spruce), 
and from Bolivia (Mr. Bridges); and seeds from Paraguay (Mr. Pent- 
land). Section of root-stock and of young fruit from the cultivated 
plant in the Garden. Flower and bud and young leaf, beautifully mo- 
delled in wax, and presented by Miss Tayspill, may be seen on the table 
of Room No. 1, apart from the arranged Nympheacee. Nothing but 
the growing plant, in our own stoves or in its native waters, can give 
an idea of the magnificence of this aquatic. The prickly leaves and 
flowers both float on the surface of the water: the former are quite orbi- 
cular, measuring 6-64 feet in diameter, with leaf-stalks sometimes 18 feet 
long, and the flowers 14—16 inches in diameter. Roots and seeds, the 
latter called Water Maize in South America, are collected and eaten by 
the native Indians.—A series of four large drawings, exhibiting the bota- 
nical characters of this plant, are suspended on the wall of the staircase. 
Prickly Euryale. Euryale ferox, Salisb. East Indies. Seeds, eaten 
by the Hindoos (Dr. Hooker). The plant may be considered a Victoria 
in miniature, with leaves no larger than the White Water-Lily, and 
flowers smaller than any of the Family. 
Downy Water-Lily. Nymphæa pubescens, Willd. East Indies. 
Root (Dr. Stocks). Much eaten in Scinde by the natives. : 
White Water-Lily. Nymphwa alba, Z, Europe. Roots, used in 
Scotland for dyeing black or grey (Messrs. Lawson). M. Fée says 
that they have been long employed in France in tanning leather, and 
that a tolerable sort of beer has been prepared from them. 
