NYMPHi^ACE.^— WATER-LILY 



FAMILY 



WHITE WATER-LILY 



Nymphaa odordia. Castdlia odordta 



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Nymphaa, dedicated to the water nymphs. Castdlia, 

 a fountain on Mount Parnassus sacred to Apollo and the 

 Muses. 



This is the white, sweet-scented Water-Lily of the 

 north, found in the still or slow-flowing water of lakes 

 and ponds; it varies into a form with pink flowers. 

 Another species Nymphcca tuherosa is associated with it 

 in western waters. Both are the primitives of many 

 hybrid forms. June-September. 



Rootstocks. — Long, prostrate, often as thick as one's 

 arm, which send up floating leaves and large flowers. 



Leaves. — Floating, circular, four to twelve inches in 

 diameter, with a narrow cleft reaching nearly or quite to 

 the petiole. Under side of leaf reddish and hairy, with 

 many prominent veins, upper side smooth, green; margin 

 entire. Petioles and peduncles with four, main air- 

 channels; strong, yielding. 



Flowers. — Floating, white, large, fragrant. 



Sepals. — Four. 



Petals. — Many in several rows, inserted on the ovary, 

 gradually passing into stamens. 



Stamens. — Many, the outer rows with petaloid filaments; 

 the inner rows with linear filaments and elongated anthers. 



Pistil. — Ovary globular, of many carpels united into 

 a compound pistil of many cells; around a little knob 



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