OF THE NYMPHJEA. 333 



ter, often at some considerable depth, till 

 the flowering season arrives, when they rise 

 near the surface, and throw up their flower- 

 ing spikes above it, sinking afterwards to 

 ripen and sow their seeds at the bottom. 

 Nymphaa alba, t. 160, is very truly de- 

 scribed by Linnaeus in his Flora Siiecica, 

 as closing its flowers in the afternoon and 

 laying them down upon the surface of the 

 water till morning, when it raises and ex- 

 pands them, often, in a bright day, to se- 

 veral inches above the water. To this I can 

 speak from my own knowledge, and it is 

 confirmed by the history given by Theo- 

 phrastus of his Lotus, which, according to 

 all appearance, is the Nymphcva Lotas of 

 Linnsuus. " This," says he, " as well as the 

 Cyamus*, bears its fruit in a head. The 

 flower is white, consisting of many crowded 

 leaves about as broad as those of a lily. 

 These leaves at sunset fold themselves toge- 

 ther, covering the head (or seed-vessel). At 

 sun-rise they expand, and rise above the wa- 

 ter. This they continue till the head is per- 

 fected, and the flowers fall off." So far 



* Exot. Bot. t. 31, 32. 



