THE WATER-LILY FAMILY. 45 



done, a bulbous root, descending from each little seed, 

 fixes itself in the soil, or amongst the pebbles, and 

 forth from each, springs up a leaf-stalk, which often 

 rises to a considerable height from out the bosom of 

 deep waters. And thus, from year to year, the lakes 

 and rivers of this, and other countries, are beautifully 

 varied, with the floating globules of the Water-lily." * 

 The largest flower and leaf that have yet been 

 discovered, belong to a plant in this family the 

 "Victoria Kegia" whose blossoms are 15 inches, 

 and leaves 6 feet in diameter. And that wonder of 

 the vegetable kingdom, may be seen to great advan- 

 tage in the Kew Gardens ; where it grows in a 

 massive stone basin ; with other curious aquatic plants, 

 in smaller basins, in the same glass house. But should 

 you be so fortunate as to visit those delightful gardens 

 be prepared not to find the ' Victoria ' so large as in 

 its native waters, only quite as beautiful. 



* "Flowers of the Matin and Even-song," a charming 

 little volume, by 'Mary Eoberts.' 



