13 
R. Caspary 
Feb. 10, 1866 
By analogy with other Speeles, the nerves are sometimes rai sed, soraeti- 
mes imbedded in fresh state,and therewith this characteri stier' dis - 
appears,. I quote as example for this fluctuatiorr Nymphaea bland a Ne> 
gor,which ciiltivated very strong stock. I had last Summer about 19 
in pots.which always had raised nerves. however the seed-started 
plants, which were anchored and sprouted in the basinr,and from^ whicH- 
oppulent plants XNTith in part enormous leaves' emerged',had sunk-in-' 
nerves>even when the plants were small.* Only the middle-rib al^^- 
ways is raised... 3) Sims says nitida seeras to require the constant^ 
heat" of a Stove or hotbed-.to preserve it alive.whilst odorata is now 
found to be quite hardy.**. From the word ••seems*' derives, that this 
is only hypothesis.and it is not worth to talk about it further. - 
I' thus do not find anything in Sim* s description, what would differ- 
entiate N. nitida from N. odorata» . The Illustration alone shows 
something-, which I find mentioned no place about N . odorata , and which' 
Sims himself does not' pronounce ,that the calyx is whirled on the 
outside#. There is in North America also N. odorata with on the out- 
side whirled calyx leaves to be explored.^ Sims does nö^ know the 
home-land of N'.nitida» . He supposes, that it could be America. Do nr^ 
mentions: •♦native of Siberia in lakes and the River Lena and in Dau- 
ria in qui^te waters»* (Lineus Syst. i^ l801 p.l26). This is obviously/ 
incorrect and is based on mix-up with N^.tetragona Georgi, which does 
exist there.and of which I saw many from Siberia». 
Of the 3 Speeles, which Rafinesque makes, I know nothing». Did-^ 
Rafinesque leave an herbarium, and where is it Are Originals stiir 
on hand only can copy his diagnosis:: 
1) Nymphaea rosea Leaves orbicular, split at the base, lobes di- 
varicatiVacutiilower surface red.petals rose colored».In New York», 
Ohio etc with smaller flowers,less odorous». 
ii 
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m 
1 2 3 A 
5 6 7 8 9 10 Missouri 
BOTANICAL 
