NYMPIl^A — WATER-LILT. 88 



hy only a few species, none of which are very important, modicinally. 

 They are generally UHtrhigont and Honiewhat demulcent. The i)lant de- 

 scribed below, Nipnpha^a odorata, is the most imjiortaut medicinally, 

 though species of the genua nuphar possess similar properties but to u 

 more limited extent. 



NYMPlIillA.— Wateu-Lii.y. 



Nymphaea odorata Alton. — Sweel-acenlcd Water- LiUj. 



DeKcriplion. — Calyx : sepals 4, green outside, white within, nearly fi'co, 

 withering but not falling away. Corolla : petals numerous, in many rows, 

 gadiially p issing into stamens, imbricate, inserted upcni the ovary. Sta- 

 mens iiidcfinit(!, inserted upon the ovary al)ove the petals, the outer ones 

 with dilated, petal-like tiLuuents. Ovary 18- to 3()-cellfil, the concave sum- 

 njit bearing at its centre a tubercle, from which the stigmas, equal in num- 

 ber with the cells, radiate lik(! the spokes of a wheel, projecting and in- 

 curving at the margin, forming a scalloped border. . Fruit depressed- 

 glol>ular, many-celled, many-seeded, covered with the bases of the decayed 

 petals. 



A perennial aquatic herb, having a rough, knotty rhizome as largo as a 

 man's arm, from which proceed flower- and leaf-stems, 1 to G feet in length, 

 varying in this respect according to the depth of water in which the 

 specimen grows. Leaves orbicular, conlate-deft to the base of the petiole, 

 Avliieh is insertcul about the centre, (! to 10 inches wide, tlu* margin entire, 

 the upper surface dark, glossy green, repelling water, the under lighter 

 green tinged with crimson or purple ; petioles in section nearly semicir- 

 cular, very flexible, porous, the pores filled with air to buoy the leaves up 

 and permit them to float easily upon the surface of the watei*. Flower- 

 stems round, otherwise resembling the petioles, retracting after flowering, 

 so tliat tlie fruit matures under water. Flowers solitary, 3 to 5.^ inches 

 in diameter, white, rarely pink or rose-c!olored, very sweet scented, open- 

 ing enrly in the morning and closing in the aiternoon for several days 

 in succession. The season of flowering extends throughout the summer, 

 from June to September. 



Habitat. — The margins of lakes, ponds, and slow-flowing streams with 

 muddy bottoms fror!i Can ida to the (xulf of Mexico, often covering the 

 surface of the water for acres in extent, and presenting a scene of rare 

 loveliness. Indeed, there is only one other aciuatic plant indigenous to 

 North America (Nelumbiuin hitcinii — Water GhiiHinepin) at all compar- 

 able to this in beauty. The latter belongs to the same order and grows 

 in similar situations, but is rare and local east of the Alleghanies. 



Part Used. — The rhizome — not official. 



Constitiientii. — The rhizome of the water-lily has an extremely astrin- 

 gent and bitter taste, the astringency being due to the presence of tannio 

 and gallic acids, which are its only medicimd constituents. 



