NYMPHAEACEAE 



WATER LILY FAMILY 



LOTUS 

 Nelumho Ititea (Willd.) Pers. 



There are three species of Lotus, our American, one 

 in the West Indies and one Asiatic and Australian. 



This is by far the most striking member of the Water Lily 

 family in Illinois, and is 

 noted wherever found. 

 Its occurrence is mark- 

 edly local from Labrador 

 to the Rocky mountains 

 and from Florida to 

 Texas. In this state the 

 Lotus is abundant in 

 some river shallows and 

 lake margins. 



It is perennial from 

 a large rootstock buried 

 in the mud. From this 

 arise several great leaves 

 which are centrally pel- 

 tate and have diameters 

 up to 30 inches. The 

 leaves do not float but are lifted 1-2 feet above the water. 



In midsummer the great flower buds arise from the same 

 rootstock and open into very large flowers, 6-10 inches across. 

 Sepals and petals are numerous and cream yellow. Stamens are 

 many and their anthers have hooked tips. The pistils are several 

 or many and each is ovuled. They coalesce to form a conical 

 fruit with the hard seeds imbedded in the upper part; thus each 

 ovary opens by a pore on the flat upper surface of the fruit. 

 The very starchy seeds are about two-fifths of an inch in diameter. 

 The fruit breaks off and floats indefinitely, at length by decay 

 dropping the seeds. 



THE WATER LILY 



Whence, O fragrant form of light. 

 Hast thou drifted through the 



night, 

 Svvanlike, to a leafy nest, 

 On the restless waves, at rest? 



Art thou from the snowy zone 

 Of a mountain summit blown. 



Or the blossom of a dream. 

 Fashioned in the foamy stream? 



Naj' — methinks the maiden moon. 

 When the daylight came too soon, 

 Fleeting from her bath to hide. 

 Left her garment in the tide. 



John B a n i st kr Tabb 



93 



