1 62 Subtropical Gardening. 



diameter. The singular-looking disk within these great 

 fragrant flowers is as interesting as the flower itself, and 

 far more peculiar. The flowers are of a pale yellow, 

 with a single deep stain of rosy crimson at the apex of 

 each petal. The leaves push boldly above the water, 

 are quite round, 1 2 ins. to 1 5 ins. in diameter, and of a 

 peculiar bluish-green. If the hand be placed under one 

 of them, so as to slightly raise the outer parts of the 

 large plate-like leaf, a hollow will of course be formed ; 

 and if water be poured into this so as to cover exactly 

 the centre of the stem which supports and feeds the 

 leaf, a curious result will be noticed. Bubbles of air 

 will rise rapidly one after another from exactly over the 

 part where the leaf joins its stem. In this particular 

 leaf this spot is marked by being of a much lighter green 

 than the remainder of the leaf. This would be well 

 worth trying in the southern counties on the margin of 

 ponds, etc., where it would be fine associated with Nuphar 

 advena, and the like. It should be put out early in 



May. 



Nelumbmm speciosum {Sacred Bean). — An Egyp- 

 tian water-plant of very great beauty, with round sea- 

 green leaves from 10 ins. to over a foot in diameter, some 

 of which float on the surface of the water, while others 

 are elevated above it at various heights up to 2^ ft. 

 Above the highest leaves appear the large, solitary, white, 

 rosy-tipped flowers, which are about 10 ins. broad, and 

 are very fragrant. As the plant is somewhat tender, it 

 should be grown in tubs, and placed in rather shallow 

 water (which is more easily warmed by the sun) from 

 the end of May until the end of September in a position 



