NYMPHS A WATER-LILY. 83 



"by only a few species, none of whicli are very important medicinally. 

 They are generally astringent and somewhat demulcent. The plant de- 

 scribed below, Nijmphcea odorata, is the most important medicinally, 

 though species of the genus nuphar possess similar properties but to a 

 more limited extent. 



NYMPH^A. — Water-Lily. 



Nymphsea odorata Alton. — Sweet-scented Water-Lily. 



Description. — Calyx : sepals 4, green outside, white within, nearly free, 

 withering but not falling away. Corolla : petals numerous, in many rows, 

 gadually passing into stamens, imbricate, inserted upon the ovary. Sta- 

 mens indefinite, inserted upon the ovary above the petals, the outer ones 

 with dilated, petal-like filaments. Ovary 18- to 30-celled, the concave sum- 

 mit bearing at its centre a tubercle, from which the stigmas, equal in num- 

 ber with the cells, radiate like the spokes of a wheel, projecting and in- 

 curving at the margin, forming a scalloped border. Fruit depressed- 

 globular, many-celled, mau^'-seeded, covered with the bases of the decayed 

 petals. 



A perennial aquatic herb, having a rough, knotty rhizome as large as a 

 man's arm, from which proceed flower- and leaf-stems, 1 to 6 feet in length, 

 varying in this respect according to the depth of water in which the 

 specimen grows. Leaves orbicular, cordate-cleft to the base of the petiole, 

 which is inserted about the centre, 6 to 10 inches wide, the margin entire, 

 the upper surface dark, glossy green, repelling water, the under lighter 

 green tinged with crimson or purple ; petioles in section nearly semicir- 

 cular, very flexible, porous, the pores filled with air to buoy the leaves up 

 and permit them to float easily upon the surface of the water. Flower- 

 stems round, otherwise resembling the petioles, retracting after flowering, 

 so that the fruit matures under water. Flowers solitary, 3 to 5^^ inches 

 in diameter, white, rarely pink or rose-colored, very sweet scented. Olden- 

 ing early in the morning and closing in the afternoon for several days 

 in succession. The season of flowering extends throughout the summer, 

 from June to September. 



Habitat. — The margins of lakes, jDonds, and slow-flowfng streams with 

 muddy bottoms from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, often covering the 

 surface of the water for acres in extent, and presenting a scene of rare 

 loveliness. Indeed, there is only one other aquatic plant indigenous to 

 North America {Nelumbium luteum — Water Ghinquepin) at all compar- 

 able to this in beauty. The latter belongs to the same order and grows 

 in similar situations, but is rare and local east of the AUeghanies. 



Part Used. — The rhizome — not official. 



Constituents. — The rhizome of the water-lily has an extremely astrin- 

 gent and bitter taste, the astringency being due to the presence of tannic 

 and galhc acids, which are its only medicinal constituents. 



