304 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 

 FAMILY 55. NYMPH^EACE^E. WATER LILY FAMILY 



330. LARGE YELLOW POND LILY 



NYMPHAKA ADVENA Soland. 



This plant is rather scattered in Lake Maxinkuckee, as it thrives 

 best in shallow water and rich mud and such places are only occa- 

 sional in the lake. It is found along shore in front of Overmyer's 

 flat woods, in the Norris Inlet region and in front of the Academy 

 grounds. It occurs in the thoroughfare below the wagon bridge 

 and is very abundant in Lost Lake. Here great masses of roots 

 occasionally rise to the surface, making a sort of floating island; 

 they have the appearance of having been lifted by some upheaving 

 force. This has by some been attributed to marsh gas, caused by 

 the disintegration of much organic material in the bottom of the 

 lake. It is also likely the soft bottom is unable to hold down the 

 buoyant mass of roots when it has grown beyond certain dimen- 

 sions. These great masses, floating on the surface, impede boating 

 and give a tropical aspect to the sluggish dark waters of Lost Lake 

 and the upper part of its outlet. N. advena also grows in Green's 

 marsh, and in Hawk's marsh. It is one of those plants of a toler- 

 ably wide range of environment and exhibits a marked response to 

 surroundings, as do most plants of this sort. Where it grows in 

 shallow marshes it has stout stems with the stiff and firm leaves 

 standing at an angle to the horizon and sometimes with traces of 

 fluting somewhat like that of a palm-leaf fan, radiating from the 

 base of the petiole. The petioles of the water forms are compara- 

 tively flaccid, and the leaves usually horizontal floating on the sur- 

 face of the water. The young leaves have a rich violet coloration 

 due to an abundance of cell-sap, and this probably serves as a pro- 

 tection from the rays of the sun. 



While not so handsome as the white water-lily, the half-open 

 buds of this plant have a certain charm. Both small leaves and 

 tiny buds remain in the bottom in cold storage during the winter 

 ready to expand and grow when the water warms up in spring. 

 There is no formation of winter buds nor anything like the dead 

 appearance which we are accustomed to in our common deciduous 

 plants. 



The ripened seed pods form a food for the muskrat. It is said 

 that the Indians roasted and ate the large farinaceous rootstocks, 

 and they form a favorite food of the moose where that animal is 

 found. The plant is often badly affected, and its beauty marred, 

 by a sort of plant louse or leaf hopper which attacks it in great 

 numbers. 



