STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 



is one of the privileges of the botanist and naturalist to lay 

 open the vegetable treasures that are so lavishly bestowed 

 upon us by the bountiful hand of the great Creator. 



YELLOW POND-LILY SPATTER DOCK Nuphar advena (Ait.). 



(PLATE XV.) 



" And there the bright Nymphsea loves to lave, 

 And spreads her golden orbs along the dimpling wave." 



The Yellow Pond-lily is often found growing in extensive 

 beds, mingled with the White, and though it is less graceful 

 in form, there is yet much to admire in its rich orange- 

 colored flowers, which appear, at a little distance, like balls 

 of gold floating on the still waters. The large hollow petal- 

 like sepals that surround the flower are sometimes finely 

 clouded with dark red on the outer side, but of a deep 

 orange yellow within, as also are the strap-like petals and 

 stamens; the stigma, or summit of the pistil, is flat and 

 12-24 rayed. The leaves are dark-green, scarcely so large 

 as those of the White Water-lily, more elongated, and are 

 borne on long thick fleshy stalks, flattened on the inner 

 side and rounded without. The botanical name Nuphar is 

 derived, says Gray, from the Arabic word neufar, signify- 

 ing pond-lily. 



Nature's arrangements are always graceful and harmon- 

 ious, and this is illustrated by the grouping of these beauti- 

 ful water-plants together, the ivory white of the large Lily 

 mingling with the brighter, more gorgeous color of the 

 yellow; and the deeper green of the broad shield-like leaf 

 contrasting with the bright verdure of that of the Arrow- 

 head and the bright rosy tufts of the red Water Persicaria 

 the leaves, veinings and stems giving warm tints of color to 

 the water as they rise and sink with the passing breeze. 



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