WATER-LILY FAMILY. 13 



or, as iu the Cape species, of a lively blue, and often 

 deliciously odoriferous, form additional charms. In 

 geographical distribution, the species chiefly abound 

 in the northern hemisphere, being of much rarer 

 occurrence in the southern; sometimes they inhabit 

 the obscure stream or more noble river, and at others 

 enjoy the seclusion and retirement of the still and 

 placid lake 



" Crowning the depths as with the light serene 

 Of a pure heart." 



The true and natural position of the Nymphseacese, 

 or Water-Lilies, in the Natural System of Classifica- 

 tion, is by no means very clearly determined, and 

 has given rise to great differences of opinion among 

 scientific observers. Indeed, so ambiguous is the pe- 

 culiar structure of these plants, and so different are 

 the conclusions arrived at by those vegetable physiolo- 

 gists who have given the subject their close attention, 

 that the Nymphseas have been considered by some 

 to belong to the class of Endogens, while the general 

 opinion of the present day shows a decided tendency 

 to rank them in the other important class of flower- 

 ing plants, the Exogens. Lindley assigns them a 

 place in the latter class, although it seems only from 

 the paucity of correct information elucidated con- 

 cerning them, and the unsatisfactory results which 

 have followed the arduous labours of other bota- 

 nists, that he is " not prepared to disturb existing 

 arrangements." In a volume like the present, ad- 



