CHAPTER VIII. 



NYMPH/EAS: CLASSES AND DISTRIBUTION. 



WH(_) IS NOT familiar with our native Pond Lily, Nymphsa odorata, and 

 its pink form, N. o. rosea? These are admired by all lovers of flowers; 

 yes, and by those who are not! The lovely pure white flowers floating on the 

 placid water in the early morn, attract the attention of the laborer and artisan 

 as they pass by to their daily tasks and catch a breath of air laden with the 

 sweet spicy fragrance of these charming flowers. Who can help but admire 

 and love such flowers? In the western states Nymphsea reniformis (syn. 

 tuberosa), is indigenous; yet another in the southern states, also the yellow 

 species, flava. Thus we have three distinct species in three colors; white, 

 yellow, and pink, natives of the United States and the progenitors of numerous 

 hybrids and varieties that in many instances are superior to the original types. 

 Other countries, too, have their own species of Nymphaea. England has its 

 white Water Lily, N. alba; Sweden its pink variety of that, N. alba var. rosea; 

 Bohemia has also its white, N. Candida ; China and Japan their N. pygmaea. 

 These are all hardy and will grow under the same conditions as our native 

 species. 



Another hardy aquatic must not be overlooked here, it is the American 

 Lotus — Nelumbium luteum. This grand- Lotus is indigenous to several sec- 

 lions of the United States, also the West Indies; it is nevertheless little known 

 generally. It thrives under the same conditions as the hardy Nymphasas ; its flow- 

 ers are of a rich sulphur yellow color, and is almost identical with the Egyptian 

 Lotus, sacred bean of India, Nelumbium speciosum, excepting in the color of 

 the flower; the latter is indigenous to the East and West Indies, Persia and 

 Asiatic Russia, China, and Japan, where it is also held sacred. Notwithstand- 

 ing that Nelumbiums are indigenous to the above named tropical countries, they 

 can all be grown and treated as hardy aquatics in the United States, although 



