NYMPHAEACEAE WATER LILY FAMILY 
LOTUS 
Nelumbo lutea (Willd.) Pers. 
There are three species of Lotus, our American, one 
in the West Indies and one Asiatic and Australian. 
This is by far the most striking member of the Water Lily 
family in I]linois, and is 
noted wherever found. 
Its occurrence is mark- 
edly local from Labrador 
to the Rocky mountains 
and from Florida to 
Texas. In this state the 
Lotus is abundant in 
some river shallows and 
lake margins. 
It is perennial from 
a large rootstock buried 
in the mud. From this 
arise several great leaves 
which are centrally pel- 
tate and have diameters 
up to 30 inches. The 
leaves do not float but are lifted 1-2 feet above the water. 
In midsummer the great flower buds arise from the same 
rootstock and open into very large flowers, 6-10 inches across. 
Sepals and petals are numerous and cream yellow. Stamens are 
many and their anthers have hooked tips. The pistils are several 
or many and each is ovuled. They coalesce to form a conical 
fruit with the hard seeds imbedded in the upper part; thus each 
ovary opens by a pore on the flat upper surface of the fruit. 
The very starchy seeds are about two-fifths of an inch in diameter. 
The fruit breaks off and floats indefinitely, at length by decay 
dropping the seeds. 
THE WATER LILY 
Whence, O fragrant form of light, Or the blossom of a dream, 
Hast oon drifted through the Fashioned in the foamy stream? 
night, 
Swanlike, to a leafy nest, Nay—methinks the maiden moon, 
On the restless waves, at rest? When the daylight came too soon, 
Fleeting from her bath to hide, 
Art thou from the snowy zone Left her garment in the tide. 
Of a mountain summit blown, JOHN BANISTER TABB 
93 
