98 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



roots, and the larger ones of the leaf-stalks. It is said to be eaten 

 by the peasants of Finland and Eussia, as well as the petioles ; and 

 the fruits were eaten in Bceotia. It is, however, astringent enough 

 to be used for tanning, and when infused as a diarrhoea medicine. 

 The yellowish stock of the White Water-lily, Nymphaa alba, 1 almost 

 black on the surface, has exactly the same properties. Its starch 

 has been used for food in times when cereals have failed. It is 

 mucilaginous, slightly acrid, bitter, and astringent ; 2 hence its use in 

 dysentery, blennorrhcea, and several other fluxes, and the vulnerary 

 properties which have been ascribed to the leaf and flower-stalks. 

 Most of the other species of Nymjiliaa have the same properties. 3 

 Some act by the tannin they contain, like N. Candida Presl., of 

 Bohemia, and N. odorafa Ait., of the United States, both astringents ; 

 N. sf el/a fa W., of the East Indies, recommended in cystitis and 

 dysuria ; N. Lotus L., pubescens W., and rubra Roxb., thought to cure 

 ophthalmia, haemorrhoids, and wounds. Others are rich in starch and 

 edible, as regards their seeds or rhizomes, which are eaten 

 cooked like potatoes. This is the case with N. edulis DC. and 

 N. rubra in India, N. gigantea Ho ;K., in Australia, and N. ampla DC. 

 in Tropical America. All these species have magnificent flowers, 

 white, pink, or blue, the ornaments of our aquariums, like the grand 

 Euryales or Victorias, whose brilliant, enormous flowers and strong 

 leaves, with projecting ribs covered with prickles, give them so high 

 a position. Some species have scented flowers, like the last- 

 mentioned, and NupJiar luteum, advenum, &c. All of them, especially 

 the beautiful White Water-lily, have the strange reputation, founded 

 it would seem on very slight grounds, of being refrigerant, 

 calmative, and anaphrodisiac ; qualities no doubt imaginary, but 

 proverbial throughout Europe. 



The Sarracenas have a reputation 4 which is perhaps equally 

 undeserved. The North American Indians consider their roots, 

 especially of S. purpurea' and variolaris, 6 as a preservative against 



1 Gttib., op. cit., 720.— Likdl., FL Med., Chapm., Fl. S. Unit. -St ales, 20, n. I.—Ctot., 

 19-— Si'S^, Theophk.; NvficpaCa, Diosc. (see in Bof. Mag.,t. M9.—Bucanephyllum ameri- 

 above, p. 83, note 6, fks. 93-98). canum Pluk., Amalth., 46, t. 376 (see p. 90, 



2 It is also considered slightly narcotic. figs. 104-107). — -Huntsman's Cup, Sidesaddle 

 Singers chew it, it is said, for relaxed uvula. Flower, Indian Cup of the Americans. 



3 Rosenth., op. oil., 652, 1142. 6 MiCHX., Fl. Bor.-Amer., i. 310.— Chapm., 



4 Rosenth., op. cit., 1142. Fl. S. Unit.- States, 21, n. 6 (see p. 89, fig. 



5 L., Spec, 728.— Michx., Fl. Bor.-Amer., 103).— Spotted Trvr.rpet-kaf of the Americans. 

 i. 318.— A. Gbay, Man., ed. 5, 58, n. 1. — 



