92 REMARKABLE FLOWERS. [CHAP. 



ing, however, with no success. I learned afterwards 

 that the plant is common in nearly all the lakes of 

 this neighbourhood. The natives call it the ' furno 

 do piosoca/ or oven of the jacana, the shape of the 

 leaves being like that of the ovens on which man- 

 dioca meal is roasted." Naturalist on the Amazons, 



P- US- 



The margin of the leaf is always turned up all 

 round, so that it resembles a large tray two or three 

 inches deep. On the upper surface its colour is a 

 rich green, beneath it is deep purple. The nerves or 

 fibres are very large, and prominent on the under 

 side. The larger fibres, which radiate from the centre 

 of the leaf to the margin, are connected by smaller 

 transverse fibres, so that the under surface is divided, 

 or partitioned off, into a large number of little square 

 spaces. By this method of construction great buoy- 

 ancy is attained, and they are thus able to sustain a 

 great weight without being submerged ; in fact, it is 

 stated that one of these leaves will support a child 

 twelve years of age, provided that a small board be 

 placed on the leaf to prevent the child's feet from 

 tearing the leaf. 



The flowers are equally large and noble, borne on 

 a thick strong stalk, and, when fully expanded, 

 measuring over a foot across. The outer petals are 

 white, the inner ones of a beautiful deep rose-colour. 

 When fully expanded these outer petals bend down- 

 wards, whilst the inner remain erect, and thus a 

 beautiful effect is produced. The flowers have the 

 additional charm of fragrance. 



It seems remarkable that so magnificent a plant 



