92 REMARKABLE FLOWERS. [CHAP. 
ing, however, with no success. I learned afterwards 
that the plant is common in nearly all the lakes of 
this neighbourhood. The natives call it the ‘furno 
do piosoca,’ or oven of the jacana, the shape of the 
leaves being like that of the ovens on which man- 
dioca meal is roasted.”—Waturalist on the Amazons, 
p. 145. 
The margin of the leaf is always turned up all 
round, so that it resembles a large tray two or three 
inches deep. On the upper surface its colour is a 
rich green, beneath it is deep purple. The nerves or 
fibres are very large, and prominent on the under 
side. The larger fibres, which radiate from the centre 
of the leaf to the margin, are connected by smaller 
transverse fibres, so that the under surface is divided, 
or partitioned off, into a large number of little square 
spaces. By this method of construction great buoy- 
ancy is attained, and they are thus able to sustain a 
creat weight without being submerged ; in fact, it is 
stated that one of these leaves will support a child 
twelve years of age, provided that a small board be 
placed on the leaf to prevent the child’s feet from 
tearing the leaf. 
The flowers are equally large and noble, borne on 
a thick strong stalk, and, when fully expanded, 
measuring over a foot across. The outer petals are 
white, the inner ones of a beautiful deep rose-colour. 
When fully expanded these outer petals bend down- 
wards, whilst the inner remain erect, and thus a 
beautiful effect is produced. The flowers have the 
additional charm of fragrance. 
It seems remarkable that so magnificent a plant 
