NYMPH^EA 



THE BULB BOOK 



NYMPILEA 



stream, either near the margin or 

 from a boat or punt in deep water. 

 Very often, however, the rhizomes are 

 just tied to a big stone and sunk into 

 the mud at the bottom. In some 

 cases, as at Mr Robinson's place at 

 Gravetye Manor, in Sussex, they will 

 flourish in water from 16 to 20 ft. 

 deep, and send up their leaves and 

 flowers from that great depth. The 

 tender or hothouse kinds are easily 

 managed in warm-water tanks, and 

 may be sunk in pots or baskets a foot 

 or two beneath the surface of the 

 water. 



PKOPAGATION. Water Lilies (in- 

 cluding the NUPHARS) are easily 

 increased by dividing the root-stocks 

 with a strong knife in spring, and re- 

 planting. They may either be left 

 in the mud during the winter, or 

 taken up and stored in sand in a cool 

 but frost - proof place during the 

 winter. Seeds may also be sown 

 either when ripe or in spring, but it 

 will be necessary to pay some atten- 

 tion to saving them, as the pods ripen 

 under water, and run the risk of being 

 lost or destroyed by waterfowl in 

 the open air. The seeds should be 

 sown in flattish pots or pans in rich, 

 gritty soil, and sunk in water. When 

 the small round seed-leaves are seen 

 floating on the water, each plantlet 

 may be given a little pot to itself in 

 the usual rich compost, and again 

 placed under water. 



Apart from the decoration of lakes, 

 ponds, streams, water-tanks, etc., the 

 flowers of Water Lilies now of all 

 shades of colour, embracing red, white, 

 blue, yellow, rose, crimson, and 

 salmon are excellent when cut, and 

 last quite a long time in a bowl of 

 water in rooms. By cutting off half 

 an inch or two of the stalks every 

 third or fourth day, the period of 

 freshness may be prolonged. 



The following are some of the best- 



known kinds of Water Lilies, the 

 words hardy, half-hardy, or tender 

 being added to give an idea as to 

 whether the plants are best grown 

 without heat in the open air, or in open 

 air with heated water, or under glass 

 altogether in heat in a temperature 

 of 70 to 90 when in full growth : 



N. alba. The common white 

 British Water Lily. There are several 

 varieties, such as candidissima, one 



FIG. 283. Nymphata alba. 



of the best, and broad-petalled ; rosea 

 (also known as N. Caspary), a beauti- 

 ful pink form ; and plenissima, in 

 which there are an extra number of 

 petals filling up the centre. All quite 

 hardy. There are several other forms 

 to which distinctive names like 

 maxima, minor, rubra, delicata, etc., 

 have been given. 



N. amazonum. Flowers yellowish- 

 white, sweet-scented, 3 to 4 ins. 

 across. Native of Jamaica. Tender. 

 (Bot. Mag. t. 4823.) This species 

 and N. ampla appear to be the same. 



N. ampla speciosa. Flowers 

 yellowish- white. Native of Jamaica. 

 Tender. (Bot Mag. t. 4469.) The 

 variety Gerardiana has leaves 2 ft. 

 across, red-brown above, blue-red and 

 strongly veined beneath ; and very 

 large white or cream flowers. 



N. aurora. Pale rose, with golden 

 stamens. Half-hardy. See N. 

 Laydekeri. 



N. Baumi. This species from S.W. 

 Tropical Africa is the smallest 



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