136 _ NYMPHEA ODORATA, 
often at the height of several feet. The upper 
side of the leaves has a highly repellent power for 
water, owing to its finely polished surface, from 
which the fluid rolls off as from a coating of oil. 
When the buds have attained to maturity, they 
emerge and expand their flowers, This takes 
place in the morning ; and when the sun is bright, 
a bed of these flowers presents a truly magnifi- 
cent spectacle. Owing to the concavity of the 
calyx and petals they continue to float during a 
great part of the day.’ They are seldom elevated 
from the surface, except when the stem is un- 
commonly large, or pushed upward by some 
displacement of the adjacent leaves. At night, 
or before, the flowers close, and either rest on 
the surface or sink beneath it till the subsequent 
day. When flowering is over, the germ sinks to 
the bottom and there ripens its fruit. 
The genus Nympheea i is now separated from 
some other plants formerly attached to it by the 
following character. Caiya four or five leaved ; 
petals many, inserted into the germ below the 
stamens ; stigma radiated, sessile with a tubercle 
in the middle; berry many celled, many seeded. 
This species very nearly resembles the N. Alba 
of Europe, but appears distinct by the following 
marks. Leaves orbicular-cordate, entire, the lobes 
