WHITE 



WHITE WATER-LILY. 



Nymphcza odorata. Water-lily Family. 



Leaves. Rounded ; somewhat heart-shaped ; floating on the surface of 

 the water. Flowers. Large; white or sometimes pink ; fragrant. Calyx. 

 Of four sepals which are green without. Corolla. Of many petals. Sta- 

 mens. Indefinite in number. Pistil. With a many-celled ovary whose 

 summit is tipped with a globular projection around which are the radiating 

 stigmas. 



This exquisite flower calls for little description. Many of us 

 are so fortunate as to hold in our memories golden mornings de- 

 voted to its quest. We can hardly take the shortest railway 

 journey in summer without passing some shadowy pool whose 

 greatest adornment is this spotless and queenly blossom. The 

 breath of the lily-pond is brought even into the heart of our cit- 

 ies, where dark-eyed little Italians peddle clusters of the long- 

 stemmed fragrant flowers about the streets. 



In the water-lily may be seen an example of so-called plant- 

 metamorphosis. The petals appear to pass gradually into sta- 

 mens, it being difficult to decide where the petals end and the 

 stamens begin. But whether stamens are transformed petals, or 

 petals transformed stamens, seems to be a mooted question. In 

 Gray we read, " Petals numerous, in many rows, the innermost 

 gradually passing into stamens; " while Mr. Grant Allen write? 

 " Petals are in all probability enlarged and flattened stamens, 

 which have been set apart for the work of attracting insects," 

 and goes on to say, " Flowers can and do exist without petals, 

 . . . but no flower can possibly exist without stamens, which 

 are one of the two essential reproductive organs in the plant." 

 From this he argues that it is more rational to consider a petal a 

 transformed stamen than vice versa. To go further into the sub- 

 ject here would be impossible, but a careful study of the water- 

 lily is likely to excite one's curiosity in the matter. 



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