ROYAL WATER-LILY. 65 



greatest beauty. It continued thus for about four 

 hours, when it began finally to close preparatory to 

 seeding. On the third morning, the remains of the 

 flower were partly under water, and gradually sank 

 lower, but the flower-stalk continued to lengthen for 

 some time afterwards. I may here observe that, on 

 the morning of the day on which the flower first ex- 

 panded, the bud was seen to move itself as far as 

 possible in one direction, then back again in a semi- 

 circle, and finally raised itself out of the water to 

 rest and expand upon the young leaf, with which it 

 was produced. Just before opening, and during the 

 whole of the first night, the flower is very fragrant 

 the perfume being that of the pine-apple; this .odour 

 is distinctly perceptible outside the house. At the 

 present time (May 6), the tenth flower is expanded; 

 it is twelve inches in diameter. I find that each suc- 

 ceeding flower increases in size. There are now 

 four more flower-buds visible; in fact, with every 

 young leaf, comes its attendant flower-bud. Since 

 the 10th of April, the Victoria has been in flower for 

 two successive days, missing the following one, with 

 very little variation. The largest leaf is now five 

 feet in diameter, with an inch and a half of its edge 

 turned neatly up, and forming a beautiful rim; the 

 under surface being of a purplish red colour, and 

 contrasting well with the deep green of the upper 

 portion. The formation of the under side of the 

 leaves is very beautiful. The large veins near the 



