184 STOVE PLAklS, 



the second evening the petals have undergone a complete 



change in colour, and the fragrance is gone altogether. 

 The flowers now reflex so that the points of the petals 

 nearly touch the water, and are rich rosy pink, forming a 

 heautiful coronet. Towards morning the flower closes, and 

 in the course of the day skiks below the surface of the water 

 to ripen its seed. Only one flower, as a rule, is open at one 

 time on this plant, but, if in vigorous health, there will not be 

 more than one evening's interval, and not always that, and 

 we have seen, though very rarely, two flowers open together, 

 one in the first and the other in its second stage ; when seen 

 thus it is grand in the extreme, and would repay even double 

 the trouble it causes. 



This noble and gigantic Water Lily was found by Sir E. 

 Schomburgk, in the year 1826 or 1827, growing in the 

 tributaries of the Amazon Kiver ; in this country it has 

 almost always proved of only annual duration, though one or 

 two instances are on record of its living two years. The 

 temperature of the water it is growing in should never fall 

 below 80°, and in the day-time should rise to about 85° ; the 

 atmosphere of the house about 75° to 80° by day, and 68" 

 at night. 



