WAl^R LILY TRIBE 



Natural Order III 



NYMPH^AC^.— Water Lily Tride 



Sepals 3-6, gradually passing into petals, and these into 

 stamens, all being inserted on a ileshy disk, which surrounds the 

 ovary ; stigma sessile, rayed ; fruit many-celled, many-seeded. 

 Herbaceous, aquatic plants, with 

 peltate, floating leaves, and large, 

 often fragrant flowers. The roots 

 of some species are roasted and 

 eaten ; the seeds contain a con- 

 siderable quantity of starch, and 

 in seasons of scarcity arc used as 

 food. The East Indian Nelum- 

 biimi speciosmn is said to have 

 been the sacred bean of Pytha- 

 goras. Its curious seed-vessels, 

 filled with vegetating seeds, are 

 thought to have originated the 



Nympii.e.!! .\lb.\ (WhitB Water Lily) 



form of the cornucopia of the ancients. One plant of this order, 

 Victoria regia, the largest and most beautiful of aquatic plants, pro- 

 duces blossoms 15 inches, and leaves more than (S feet in diameter. 

 The seeds are eatable, and are called in South America, Water Mai/,e. 



1. Nymph.ea (Water Lily). — Sepals green on the outside ; 

 petals white, inserted on a fleshy disk. (Name from its growing 

 in places which nymphs were supposed to haunt.) 



2. Nuphar (Yellow Water Lily). — Sepals yellow ; petals small, 

 yellow, inserted on the receptacle. (Name pf Greek origin.) 



I. NYMPH.EA (Water Lily) 



I. N. alba (White Water Lily). — Leaves 6-8 inches in diameter, 

 cordate, floating on the surface of the water ; flowers about 5 

 inches in diameter and without scent. The only British .species, 

 and perhaps the most magnificent of our native flowers, inhabit- 

 ing clear pools and slow rivers. The flowers rise above the 

 water under the influence of light, and expand only during sun- 

 shine, in the middle of the day. Towards= evening they close and 

 sink beneath the surface. — Fl. July. Perennial. 



2. NuPHAR [Yellow Water Lily) 



I. N. lutea (Common Yellow Water Lily). — Stigma with 14-20 

 rays, which do not extend to the margin. Rivers and ditches, fre- 

 quent. Much smaller than the last in all its parts. Flower yellow, 



