THOUGHTS ON VEGETABLE INSTINCT. 193 



" The blossoms of this water plant are of two kinds. 

 The stamens or pollen-bearing flowers are clustered on 

 short scapes (stems), and are seen growing at the bottom 

 of the lake or pond. The fertile or fruit-bearing 

 blossoms, on long thready elastic stalks, rise to the 

 surface of the water, and there expand to await the 

 appearance of the sterile or male flower, the buds of 

 which break away from the bottom of their watery bed 

 and float upwards, open out their petals, and, mingling 

 with the fertile flowers, shed upon them the fertilizing 

 pollen dust. The latter after awhile retire below the 

 surface by means of the spirally coiled scape, which, by 

 contracting, draws down the impregnated flower, there 

 to ripen and perfect its seed. The seed vessel, which is 

 a very long and slender pod, of an olive brown color, is 

 attached to the stalk of the female flower." 



The pretty white blossoms of this singular plant are 

 about the size of a quarter-dollar, and in the month of 

 August the flowers may be seen in some quiet bay, 

 covering the still waters with their snowy petals. 



THE WHITE WATER LILY. 



The beautiful Water Lily,* that " Queen of the Lakes," 

 what pen can do justice to her loveliness ! 



The exquisitely folded buds are seen at all stages of 

 development, rising midway from the bed of the still 

 waters as you look downward into its depths. As they 



* Nymphce Oderata. 



