CLASS XIII. OHDEK I.J NUPHAR. 767 



TLis is perhaps the most beautiful of all our native plants, and it is 

 rarely surpassed by those of any other country. 



Oh ! beautiful thou art, 

 Thou sculpture-like and stately river-queen ! 

 Crowning the depths, as with the light serene. 

 Of a pure heart. 



Bright lily of the wave ! 

 Rising in fearless grace with every swell, 

 Thou seem'sl as if a spirit meekly brave 



Dwelt in thy cell : 



Lifting alike thy bead 

 or placid beauty, feminine yet free. 

 Whether with foam or pictured azure spread. 



The waters be. 



What is like thee, fair flower. 

 The gentle and the firm ? thus bearing up 

 To the blue sky that alabaster cup, 



As to the shower? 



Mrs. Hemans. 



The stem and petioles of the flowers and leaves are of various 

 lengths, according to the depth of the water iu which they grow. We 

 have taken them out of pools near Sutton-upon-Trent, Nottingham- 

 shire, fifteen feet long, and it is not unfrequent to meet with them not 

 as many inches. The flowers are from four to five inches across, ex- 

 panding in the sunshine and middle of the day only, closing in the 

 rain and towards evening, when they recline on or partly sink under 

 the water ; after flowering the fruit sinks to the bottom, and deposits 

 its numerous seeds in the mud the more securely to accomplish their 

 germination. It is said that the stems are better than oak galls for 

 dying grey. They have also been employed advantageously for tanning 

 leather, and a tolerable sort of beer has been prepared from them. — 

 Fee. The closing of the flowers, and their submersion in the water, is 

 thus noticed in Lalla Rookh — 



Those Virgin Lilies all the night 



Bathing their beauties in the lake. 

 That they may rise more fresh and bright. 



When their beloved Sun's awake. 



GENUS IX. NU'PHAR.— Smith. Yellow Water Lily. 

 Nat. Ord. Nymph^a'ce^. De Cand. 

 Gen. Char. Cali/x of five or six pieces. Petals numerous, with a 

 nectariferous opening at the back, and as well as the stamens 

 inserted upon the receptacle. Berry superior, many celled, many 

 seeded. — Name Noi/?)5^p, of Dioscoridcs. 



