WATER-LILIES 85 



remains to indicate the chief varieties from which a 

 selection may be made. 



Nymphaea alba (White Water-Lily). This is the 

 beautiful flower which occurs naturally on many lakes 

 and ponds. Flowering freely in late spring and early 

 summer, it should be planted on large sheets of water in 

 positions where bold effects are desired. 



The following are included in the same section : — 



Nymphaea a. candidissima. The fine, pure white 

 flowers of this variety are remarkably handsome, and are 

 produced freely throughout the summer. It does best 

 in a considerable depth of water, and is not suitable 

 for shallow, cramped positions. Plenissima, with its 

 numerous pure white petals, is a good double form. 



Nymphaea odorata (Sweet Water-Lily). A native of 

 North America ; the flowers white and sweetly scented. 

 Included amongst its varieties are several beautiful kinds. 

 N. o. rosacea, with small, rosy flowers, is a gem. N. o. 

 sulphurea has deliciously scented flowers of a delicate 

 yellow, with rich golden stamens ; the leaves are 

 marbled a brownish red. This variety is distinct by 

 reason of its slender, tapering petals. Grandiflora is 

 larger than the foregoing, the leaves quaintly spotted 

 with red on the underside. 



Nymphaea tuberosa. So called from its thick mass of 

 fleshy roots, is a large-flowered white Lily of American 

 origin. Of vigorous habit and readily increased by 

 division, it is well suited to large, somewhat exposed 

 pieces of water. The flowers, over six inches across, 

 are freely produced during late summer and autumn. 

 Rubra, in addition to its delicate scent, has magnifi- 

 cent rosy-carmine petals, and light orange stamens. 

 Richardsoni, a double white form, possesses the true 

 globe shape of the perfect Water-Lily. Rosea is an 

 early-flowering kind. 



Nymphaea pygmaea, the Siberian Lily, is the smallest 



