WILD, OR NATIVE FLOWERS. 65 



or great Yellow Water-Lily, found in our North American lakes 

 resemble the Sweet Potato {Batatas ediilis), and by some of the natives 

 are esteemed equally agreeable and wholesome," observes the same 

 author, " being used as food by the Indians, as well as some of the 

 Tartar tribes." 



As yet little value has been attached to our charming White 

 Water-Lily, because its uses have been unknown. It is one of the 

 privileges of the botanist, and naturalist, to lay open the vegetable 

 treasures that are so lavishly bestowed upon us by the bountiful hand 

 of the great Creator. 



Yellow Pond-Lilv — Spatter Dock — Nuphar adveua (Ait.) 



And there the bright Nymphn;a loves to lave, 



And spreads her golden orbs along the dimpling wave. 



The Yellow Pond-Lily is often found growing in extensive beds^ 

 mingled with the White, and though it is less graceful in form, there is 

 yet much to admire in its rich orange-coloured flowers, which appear, at 

 a little distance, like balls of gold floating on the still waters. The large 

 hollow petal-like sepals that surround the flower, are sometimes finely 

 clouded with dark red on the outer side, but of a deep orange yellow 

 within, as also are the strap-like petals and stamens : the stigma, or 

 summit of the pistil, is flat, and 12-24 rayed. The leaves are dark-green^ 

 scarcely so large as those of the White Lily, and more elongated, they 

 are borne on long thick fleshy stalks, flattened on the inner side, and 

 rounded without. The botanical name Nuphar is derived, says Gray 

 from the Arabic word Neufar, signifying Pond-Lily. 



Nature's arrangements are always graceful and harmonious, and 

 this is illustrated ' by the grouping of these beautiful water plants 

 together. The ivory white of the large Lily mingling with the brighter, 

 more gorgeous colour of the yellow ; and the deeper green of the broad 

 shield-like leaf with the bright verdure of that of the Arrow-head, and 

 the bright rosy tufts of the red Water Persicaria ; the leaves, veinings 

 and stems, giving warm tints of colour to the water, as they rise and sink 

 with the passing breeze. 



Where there is a deep deposit of mud in the shallows of still 

 waters, we frequently find many different species of aquatics growing 

 promiscuously. The tall lance-like leaf and blue-spiked heads of the 

 stately Pontederia cordata, keeping guard, as it were, over the graceful 

 Nymphaea, like a gallant knight with lance in rest, ready to defend his 

 queen; and around these the fair and delicate white flowers of the small 

 Arrow-head rest their frail petals upon the water, looking as if the slightest 

 breeze that ruffled its surface, would send them from their watery pillow. 



