SWEET SCENTED WATER LILY. 437 
acuminate, and veins prominent beneath ; calya 
four-leaved, equal to the petals.—Linneeus placed 
this genus in his Miscellanew, and Jussieu with 
the Hydrocharides. | 
The stalks, both of the leaves and aime 
spring directly from the root. They vary in 
length from one foot to five or six, according to 
the depth of the water, The petioles are some- 
what semicireular, the scapes round. Both are 
perforated throughout by long tubes or air-yessels 
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 glossy green almost without veins; the 
lower surface is reddish and marked by a multi- 
tude of strong prominent yeins diverging from 
the centre. The calyx has four lanceolate leaves, 
green without and. white within. Petals nume- 
rous, lanceolate, of a delicate whiteness, with 
sometimes a tinge of lake on the outside. _ Sta- 
mens numerous, yellow, in several rows; the 
filaments dilated, especially the outer ones, $0 &s 
to resemble petals ; the anthers in two Jongitu- 
dinal cells growing to the filaments and opening 
~*~ 
