HARDY WATER-LILIES 
The true Water-Lilies are the most beautiful of all aquatic 
plants. There are many species, some of which grow only in 
tropical conditions, a few may be termed sub-tropical, whilst 
others are quite hardy in England, our own native species 
Nymphea alba, of course, being among them. Tropical species 
are represented by white, pink, red, yellow, and blue flowers, 
but the temperate (hardy) Nymphzeas were white, or white- 
and-red, until a few years ago, when seedlings or hybrids were 
raised by M. Latour-Marliac, a French nurseryman, some of 
which have crimson, others apricot, and others variegated 
flowers. Hitherto, however, no hardy Nymphza with blue 
flowers has been obtained. Three of the best of the hardy 
seedlings are represented in the Plate. The species that were 
used in the breeding of these new hardy Nymphezas are known 
only to the raiser, but it is probable that /V. a/ba, and the red- 
tinted Swedish variety of it, and VV. fava, a yellow-flowered 
species from Florida, have played an important part: in their 
origination. The hardiness, free-flowering habit, and pleas- 
ing colours of the new Nymphzas have won for them many 
admirers. 
