STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 
is one of the privileges of the botanist and naturalist to lay 
open the vegetable treasures that are so lavishly bestowed 
upon us by the bountiful hand of the great Creator. 
YELLOW Ponp-Lity—Spatrer Dock—Nuphar advena (Ait.). 
(PLATE XV.) 
«* And there the bright Nympheza loves to lave, 
And spreads her golden orbs along the dimpling wave.” 
The Yellow Pond-lily is often found growing in extensive 
beds, mingled with the White, and though it is less graceful 
in form, there is yet much to admire in its rich orange- 
colored flowers, which appear, at a little distance, like balls 
of gold floating on the still waters. The large hollow petal- 
like sepals that surround the flower are sometimes finely 
clouded with dark red on the outer side, but of a deep 
orange yellow within, as also are the strap-like petals and 
stamens; the stigma, or summit of the pistil, is flat and 
12-24 rayed. The leaves are dark-green, scarcely so large 
as those of the White Water-lily, more elongated, and are 
borne on long thick fleshy stalks, flattened on the inner 
side and rounded without. The botanical name Nuphar is 
derived, says Gray, from the Arabic word neufar, signify- 
ing pond-lily. 
Nature’s arrangements are always graceful and harmon- 
ious, and this is illustrated by the grouping of these beauti- 
ful water-plants together, the ivory white of the large Lily 
mingling with the brighter, more gorgeous color of the 
yellow; and the deeper green of the broad shield-like leaf 
contrasting with the bright verdure of that of the Arrow- 
head and the bright rosy tufts of the red Water Persicaria— 
the leaves, veinings and stems giving warm tints of color to 
the water as they rise and sink with the passing breeze. 
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