THE P/l^ERlCP BDTPIST. 



Vol. VI. BINGHAMTON. N. Y., MAY. 1904. No. 5. 



POND LILIES. 



BY DK. WILLIAM WHITMAN BAILEY. 



IT has of late years become a custom to sell pond-lilies 

 on the citv streets. Nothing can be more refreshing 

 to the parched and wears^ passenger than the cool, delici- 

 ous fragrance of this flower. Then, too, how beautiful it is, 

 with its spotless white, or blushing pink and the delicate 

 3^ellow of the stamens. There is in these an interesting 

 transition backwards to the leaf-like sepals. The choice 

 red variety is a "sport" or variation and most of those 

 one sees hail from Cape Cod. It is not at all certain what 

 causes it, but once established it seems capable of perpet- 

 uation. 



Yellow species are found in Florida ; the blue ones 

 come from the Nile region. The Egyptian lotus is the 

 Nymphsea lotus of Linnaeus. It has huge peltate, circular 

 leaves, standing high above the water, and pink or white 

 flowers. These stand erect. In parts of New Jerse3^ this 

 superb plant has been permanently established, and is a 

 "joy forever." 



A nearly related and very singular plant is the water- 

 shield. The stems are covered with a peculiar jelty-like 

 substance. It has small purplish flowers. Everybody 

 knows the yellow pond lily or spatter-dock. There is little 

 beauty to the mal-odorous flowers when gathered, but 

 they are effective on the surface of a pond. 



The queen of the family, if not of the whole empire of 

 flowers, is the great lily of the Amazons — Victoria regia. 

 It is said that when Sir Joseph Paxton was designing the 

 roof of the crystal palace at Sydenham, he conceived an 

 imitation of the extraordinary system of girders and sup- 

 ports shown by the veining of the Victoria's leaves. It is 



