^8 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



plant, no two of its flowers are precisely alike, and it is, there- 

 fore, most interesting to watch their gradual opening, and spec- 

 ulate upon the variations of form and color which present 

 themselves in each ; I think that you will agree with me that 

 the delicate pink, which the petals of this flower display, is per- 

 haps, the most exquisitely beautiful color to be found in the 

 whole range of nature's productions. 



Naturalists fall into raptures about this color, and compare it 

 to the last fading glories of the evening sky, the blush of beauty 

 and a thousand other beautiful things ; but inasmuch as I am 

 neither a naturalist, nor the son of a naturalist, I must beg you 

 to make your comparisons for yourselves. 



The Victoria Regia, or great American water lily, was first 

 discovered by the botanist Haershe, while crossing the Rio Mar- 

 mose, one of the great tributaries of the Amazon. It is said that 

 when the simple-headed and enthusiastic naturalist discovered 

 this extraordinary and beautiful flower, in the marshes near the 

 banks of the stream, he fell on his knees in a transport of 

 admiration. 



Monsieur D'Orbigny calls the Victoria Regia " one of the giants 

 of the vegetable kingdom;" he describes his first view of it in 

 the following terms : He was ascending the Rio Platte in a 

 canoe, having in his company two Indians, when he observed, 

 *'that the marshes on either side of the river were bordered with 

 a green and floating surface, nearly a mile of water was over- 

 spread with huge, round and curious margined leaves, among 

 which glittered here and there the magnificent white and pink 

 flowers, scenting the air with their delicate fragrance." 



The first flowering of this lily in the United States, which took 

 place some years ago at Springbrook, near Philadelphia, the seat 

 of Caleb Cope, Esq., was an occasion of the greatest interest, and 

 collected crowds of visitors. There are at present in this coun- 

 try, I believe, three specimens of the Victoria Regia — the great 

 expense attending their care, preventing their general introduc- 

 tion as an ornament to the country seat. 



Thus, ladies and gentlemen, we have passed through these 

 halls together, and I have given you my humble opinions upon 

 what we have seen precisely as any other visitor might do, and 

 without pretending that they carry the slightest scientific weight. 

 I have left my friend, Mr. Williamson, to his own reflections, and 

 even now I think I hear him muttering to himself, what is the 



