THE COMMON YELLOW WATER-LILY- 

 NUPHAR LUTEA. 



ONE of the many pleasing features of Nymphaea 

 alba, which conspire to render it so interesting in 

 the eye of the poet, is the snowy whiteness of its 

 flowers, which contrast so finely with its deep green 

 leaves, and are so effectively reflected in the crystal 

 waters. The Yellow Water-Lily, on the other hand 

 of a hue which in flowers is thought to be essen- 

 tially " vulgar" by those who understand the sen- 

 timental whisperings of the floral world wants all 

 that semblance of purity the possession of which 

 brings her fair sister so much good-will alike from 

 poets and prosers. The Nuphar lutea is accord- 

 ingly by no means so generally esteemed and ad- 

 mired as the Nymphsea; nor is it indeed so univer- 

 sally known as an inhabitant of our waters. 



The Yellow Water-Lily is, however, no despicable 

 or inconspicuous flower; when congregated in num- 

 bers on the surface of the lake, this species, with 

 its broad leaves and large golden yellow blossoms, 



