CHAPTER XI 



Lotuses, Water Hyacinths and 

 Other Choice Aquatics 



No MORE stately plants adorn our gardens 

 than the lotuses. Their great, circular, pel- 

 tate leaves stand three or four feet above the 

 water on stiff, slender, stalks. The leaf is 

 often a little funnel-shaped, so that it catches 

 the rain in a silvery pool at the centre. The 

 surface is never wetted. Then, as the leaves 

 bow before a breath of wind, each empties 

 its cup of water into the pond. The flowers 

 stand as high as, or higher than, the leaves. 

 They are eight to twelve inches across, with 

 many broad petals which stand out in all 

 directions. 



The American lotus (Nelumho luted) is 

 native from New Jersey to Ontario, Minne- 

 sota, and Texas. Leaves bigger around than 

 a wash tub and flowers fully ten inches in 

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