218 Class XIII. Order I. 



nate, and veins prominent beneath ; calyx four leaved, 

 equal to the petals. 



Few plants possess a more exquisite fragrance than the com- 

 mon white water lily. It is found only in deep waters, where its 

 foots are secured from the frosts in winter by a sort of natural 

 hotbed being thus provided for it. The roots creep through the 

 muddy bottoms of ponds to a great extent. They are very 

 rough, knotted, blackish, and as large as a man's arm. The 

 stalks, both of leaves and flowers, spring directly from the root. 

 They vary in length, from one foot to five or six, according to 

 the depth of the water. Petioles somewhat semicircular, scapes 

 round. Both are perforated throughout by long tubes, or air 

 vessels, which serve to float them. The leaves, which swim on 

 the surface, are nearly round with a cleft or sinus extending to 

 the centre, at which the petiole is inserted in a peltate manner. 

 The lobes on each side of this sinus are prolonged into an acute 

 point. The upper surface is of a bright gloss} r green, almost 

 without veins ; the lower surface is reddish and marked by a 

 multitude of strong prominent veins diverging from the centre. 

 The calyx has four lanceolate leaves, green without and white 

 within. Petals numerous, lanceolate, of a delicate whiteness, 

 with sometimes a tinge of red on the outside. Stamens numer- 

 ous, yellow, in several rows, inserted on the germ ; filaments 

 dilated, especially the outer ones, so as to resemble petals ; 

 anthers in two longitudinal cells growing to the filaments and 

 opening inwardly. The stigma is surrounded by from twelve to 

 twenty-four rays, resembling abortive anthers, at first incurved, 

 afterwards spreading. At the centre is a solid, moist, hemis- 

 pherical protuberance, which has been usually called a nectary, 

 but which appears to me to be the true stigma. Fruit a large, 

 roundish, many celled berry, impressed with the marks of the 

 petals and stamens, ripening under water. Seeds numerous, 

 small. 



Common in deep rivers and ponds. July. Perennial. 



