Nympfuzace& Nymphcea. 35 



1. 



To this genus belongs our White Water-Lily, together with 

 several splendid, though unfortunately not hardy species, 

 having crimson, rose, or blue flowers, natives of Australia and 

 South Africa. Besides the flowers being much larger and 

 never yellow, this is technically distinguished from Nuphar by 

 having 4 sepals and numerous conspicuous petals as large as or 

 larger than the sepals. Dedicated by the Greeks to the water- 

 nymphs. They are all Summer-flowering plants. 



1. JV. alba (fig. 26). White Water-Lily. Leaves orbicular, 



Fig. 26. Nymphasa alba. ( not. size.) 



cordate at the base, quite entire. This is one of our most 

 beautiful indigenous aquatic plants. 



2. N. odorata. A North American species, closely re- 

 sembling the last, but the flowers are slightly tinged with rose 

 and deliciously scented. 



N. nitida, a native of Siberia, has elliptical cordate shining 

 deeply-lobed leaves with spreading lobes and white flowers, and 

 N. pygmcea is a charming miniature of the foregoing. A 

 native of China, and equally hardy. 



2. NtTPHAR. 



In this genus the sepals, which exceed 4 in number, are 

 coloured, and conceal the smaller scale-like petals. Flowers 

 always yellow, globose, and smaller than in Nymphcea. There 

 are four or five species, all natives of the temperate zone of the 

 northern hemisphere. The name is from the Arabic Naufar. 



1. N. lutea (fig. 27). Yellow Water-Lily, Brandy-Bottles. 

 Leaves orbicular, deeply lobed at the base ; lobes contiguous 

 or overlapping. There is also a smaller form of this species. 



2. N. pumila. Leaves oblong, lobes at length spreading. 



