186 WILD FLOWERS OF SUMMEB. 



under water; while its hollow stem rears its head, sur 

 rounded by whorls of five-petalled lilac flowers. In 

 some streams, about the same time, the Great Bladder 

 wort (Utricularia vulgaris) puts out its somewhat 

 bloated yellow flowers, with an upper and an under lip, 

 the upper one being veined with purple. Some three 

 or four flowers occupy the purple stalk. The thread- 

 like leaves are remarkable for the little bladders 

 attached, which gives the plant its name. These fill 

 with air when it is necessary for the flowers to receive 

 the sun's rays, but when the flowers are gone they 

 again fill with water, carrying down the seed to ma- 

 ture and vegetate in a suitable soil. 



Early in April the big platter-like leaves of the 

 Water Lilies shoot up from their watery bed, and spread 

 themselves out on the surface of the pool or river. 

 The Yellow Lily (Nuphar luted) is the first to raise 

 its greenish head above the surface of the water, and 

 open its big eyes, which village children call brandy 

 bottles, from their smell. As evening comes on, the 

 flower closes its petals, and sinks beneath the water to 

 sleep, as it were. The more rare, or rather less fre- 

 quent White Water Lily (NympTicea alba) is far more 

 handsome. Its numerous petals are sometimes tinged 



