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48-2 
Nymphacew.—This beautiful family of aquatic plants, whose species have 
been themes for poets, and designs for ancient sculptors, is tropical or sub- 
tropical in its most general Aaditat. Its prominent species are: Victoria regia, a 
native of tropical South America, named in honor of Queen Victoria. Its mag- 
nificent flowers are rose-white, and often measure nearly two feet in diameter, 
while that of its leaves often reaches five feet. Mymphea Jotus, a native of 
Egypt and Nubia, with white flowers. The seeds of this plant are eaten by the 
natives, but do not form the lotus of the /otws-eaters.* Nymphea alba. This 
European species differs but slightly from our N. odorata. This order contains 
in the United States the following genera: Brasenza, Cabomba, Neliumbium, Nuphar 
and Nymphea. 
History and Habitat.—This, our most beautiful northern flower, frequents 
ponds and still-flowing streams in the Eastern United States, especially near the 
coast, flowering from June to August. There are many varieties, due mostly to 
color and mode of growth, some being blue, others pink or rose-color; but the 
true N. odorata is pure white or creamy. The stems of the flowers and leaves 
vary in length according to the depth of the water. The flowers form one of the 
most typical illustrations of plant metamorphosis; the petals are but colored 
sepals, the stamens but anther-tipped petals, the stigmas but changed stamens, 
and all gradually merging into each other in easily distinguishable stages. After 
ripening, the fruits, now becoming spongy and water-soaked, sink to the mud, 
where they decay and allow the escape of the seeds. 
The flowers open as the sun rises, and are usually fully expanded at about 
eight o'clock ; after that time they again gradually close, being entirely shut during 
the heat of the afternoon and at night. 
In the very centre of the disk-like compound stigma, is a small, glutinous 
protuberance, called by many botanists a nectary or honey-gland. I am inclined 
to term this the true stigma, on account of the well-known fact that pollen grains 
need moisture to enable them to burst their outer coat and allow the escape of 
the fertilizing tubes. This glandular body is always moist, while the stigmatose 
disk is dry, and rejects water as freely as does the upper surface of the leaves. 
Our species are often said to be much inferior to the European in beauty ; 
but, as their purity of color and exquisite fragrance far excel that of Mymphea alba, 
it fully deserves to rank as superior in all respects. 
Rafinesque states that in Canada the fresh leaves are boiled and eaten as 
“greens,” that the fresh roots are used as a part substitute for soap, and that the 
juice of the roots, mingled with that of lemons, is used to remove freckles and 
pimples from the face. 
The roots, in decoction, were much esteemed by Indian squaws as an internal 
remedy, and injection or wash for the worst forms of leucorrhcea, its properties in 
this direction being due to its great astringency. The macerated root was also 
used as an application in the form of a poultice to suppurating glands; its styptic 
properties were also fully known and utilized. | 
* This plant is mentioned under Genista dinctoria, 46. 
