NELUMBIUM 



NELUMBIUM. SACRED BEAK. EGYPTIAN LOTUS 



NelumUum indica. NelUmbium specibsam. 



Nelumbo is the Ceylonese name of the East Indian species. 



Aquatic perennial, half-hardy, one of the best of large pond plants. 

 China, Japan. 



Rhizomes. — Thick, usually tuber-bearing. 



Zeaw.?.— Circular, peltate, borne on stout, erect petioles, usually high 

 above the water. 



Flowers.— Laxgc, pink, five to eight inches across, solitary on tall 

 stout stems. 



5e/>a/i.— Several, passing into petals. 



Petals. — Pink, in several rows. 



Stamens. — Many, on broad, short filaments. 



PMto7j.— Many, each sunken in the obconical and nearly flat-topped 

 receptacle, the embedded fruits looking like nuts in separate open cells. 

 When ripe they resemble acorns. 



Nelumbo, or as it is more commonly called, Nelumbium, is one 

 of the best of the large pond plants and should be grown in asso- 

 ciation with the Nymphseas. It is known in the trade as Egyptian 

 Lotus, but the real Egyptian Lotus was a water-lily, Nymphcea 

 cariilea. However, that matters little and, furthermore, Nelum- 

 bium was and perhaps still is sacred in India. At any rate, it is a 

 very interesting plant and produces very beautiful pink flowers 

 of the water-lily type about six inches in diameter; and in the 

 centre of the flower, surrounded by rows of yellow stamens, is a 

 curious top-shaped body whose flat upper surface is apparently 

 studded with tiny green acorns. These apparent acorns are the 

 ovaries; the little knob at the top of each is its stigma; the big 

 fleshy top is the receptacle which envelops and protects them. 



Our first Nelumbiums came to us from Kew Gardens, where 

 they had been cultivated for many years, but now fresh importa- 

 tions come directly from Japan. 



Water Chinquapin, Nelumbium IMeunij is the American repre- 

 sentative of the genus, called locally Giant Water-Lily, and found 



IS3 



