Бы a stn a а аны ~ 2 naa v c р ee ee a а е 
Е, қ - 
а: 
19171 
PRING—HYBRID NYMPHAEAS 5 
shorter and narrower toward the innermost, which is linear 
and white at the apex; carpels 45-50, with styles oblong, ob- 
tuse, introrse, yellow; fruit globose, containing numerous fer- 
tile seeds if pollinated through insect agency, not producing 
many when artificially pollinated; leaves of submerged seed- 
ling light green, broadly triangular, with acute lobes; first 
floating leaves orbicular with undulated margins, green prom- 
inently blotched with reddish brown on the upper surface, dark 
pink to pinkish red beneath; developed leaves orbicular, 1 
foot 3 inches across, peltate, obtusely sinuate-dentate, green 
sparsely spotted with light brown on the upper surface, red- 
dish pink beneath; sinuses overlapping; petioles brown, often 
attaining a length of 6 feet when fully developed. 
X NYMPHAEA “MRS. EDWARDS WHITAKER” PRING, N. НУВ. 
(Nymphaea ovalifolia 9 X Nymphaea castaluflora Pring 8.) 
The recent introduction of seeds of Nymphaea ovalifolia 
Conard from Africa by the Bureau of Plant Introduction, 
of Washington, D. C., and their successful germination by 
Mr. Е. Т. Harvey, of Cincinnati, has placed the much-needed 
material before the hybridist. 
Seeds of N. ovalifolia were sent from the Harvey collection 
and raised at the Garden during 1915. This species is a 
strong-growing type, producing large white flowers, but with 
one defective feature—the small number of petals. А large 
number of the plants raised produced both blue and pink at 
the tips of the petals. To counterbalance this defect in the 
perianth this species was crossed with the semi-double N. 
castaluflora, the latter being used as the pollen parent. The 
fertilization was accomplished at the first trial, N. ovalifolia 
being very receptive to artificial pollination. The reciprocal 
cross was made repeatedly with no results. The seeds of the 
hybrid, N. ovalifolia 9 XN. castalufloraé, germinated readily, 
and during the summer months produced the largest flowers 
of any of the Brachyceras types. The color of the flowers 
varied from lavender-blue to dark blue. This color was re- 
tained for the first few days, then an unusual factor appeared 
—the blue color bleaching to almost white and the lavender- 
