USEFUL WILD PLANTS 



Gulf, the American Lotus or Water CMnquapin 

 {Xelumbo lutea, Pers.). It is easily recognized by 

 its huge, round leaves (sometimes two feet across 

 and a favorite sunning place, by the way, for 

 water snakes) lifted high above the water on foot- 



Wateb Chinquapin 

 (Nelumho lutea) 



stalfcs attached to the center of the concave leaf, and 

 its showy, pale yellow, papery flowers of numerous 

 petals curving upward to be succeeded by curious, 

 flat-topped, pitted seed-vessels. It is an American 

 cousin of the famous lotus of India and oriental ro- 

 mance. To the American Indian, however, it seems 



34 



