134 WATER-LILIES 



know its gigantic saucer-shaped leaves. The 

 are often six feet across, perfectly circular 

 in outline, with the margin turned up, four 

 to eight inches at right angles to the water 

 surface. Each leaf is a veritable boat, with 

 capacity to float the weight of a man. The 

 under side of the leaf presents a marvellous 

 network of girder-like veins for the support 

 of the giant structure. A strong plant should 

 have three or four such leaves in perfect con- 

 dition at one time. 



The flower is no less remarkable. It 

 floats on the water, and regularly reaches 

 twelve to eighteen inches in diameter. 

 In appearance it is a huge and very double 

 water-lily. The numerous petals are delicate, 

 almost like chiffon in appearance (although 

 really having plenty of substance) and spread 

 out widely in every direction. In spite of its 

 size, there is nothing coarse about it. 



Let us watch one open. About four 

 o'clock in the afternoon, the great brown 

 prickly bud looks very forbidding. Soon 

 a most delicious fragrance assails our nostrils: 



