THALAMIFLORA 5I 
The flowers are yellow or white and single upon 
a scape. 
There are about forty species of Water Lilies and 
allied plants. 
THE YELLOW WATER LILy (Nymphaea lutea). 
Though the Yellow Water Lily is so common a 
plant in some parts of the country, it is not found, 
for instance, in East Cornwall, North Devon, the 
Isle of Wight or the Isle of Man, some parts of 
Wales and Scotland. But although this is probably 
due to its being a lowland plant, not found in moun- 
tainous districts, yet it grows at an altitude of a 
thousand feet in Yorkshire. 
The water lilies are unique examples of aquatic 
plants with their large floating leaves, and are 
favourites of the poet, as for instance Shelley, and 
popular with everyone. 
Scarcely a pool, pond, or slow-flowing stream or 
river is without its Water Lilies, especially the one 
we are describing, which is much commoner than 
the equally beautiful white Water Lily. 
The name Water Lily is quite popular, and the 
plant has no real resemblance toa Lily. The first 
Latin name refers to its favourite habitat, water, 
_ describing it as a nymph of the pool. 
Like true aquatic plants it grows entirely in the 
water with the leaves afloat, the long streaming stems 
submerged and deeply rooted in the mud. Only the 
flower projects above the surface. 
