9i6 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



shaped flowers of a bright rosy-red. The habit of the plant is 

 extremely vigorous : its large leaves are of a bronzy colour on 

 the upper surface, and are deeply toothed at the margins. This 

 magnificent Water Lily does not flower as freely as many kinds 

 in the Lotus section, to which it belongs. 



Victoria regia (Royal Water Lily). — A monotypic genus 

 befittingly dedicated to the illustrious lady whose name it 

 bears. This handsome plant is one of the most interesting and 

 wonderful productions of the Vegetable Kingdom, and is by far 

 the largest and most remarkable Aquatic hitherto introduced. 

 No plant has probably attracted so much public interest 

 and admiration, or, when seen for the first time, created 

 so much astonishment. The gigantic leaves of this queen 

 of Water Lilies are peltate and nearly orbicular in shape, the 

 largest measuring from 6ft. to 7 ft. in diameter, exclusive of 

 the upturned margin, which is from 2 in. to 5 in. in depth, the 

 whole presenting the appearance of a huge circular tray 

 floating on the surface of the water. The under-side of the 

 leaf is furnished with numerous large cellular ribs, extending in 

 each direction from where the petiole joins and gradually 

 diminishing in size as they approach the margin. These are 

 connected by much smaller transverse ribs, forming a network 

 of great sustaining power ; and all are beset with sharp prickles, 

 varying in length, as does also the cylindrical petiole, which has 

 the peculiarity of elongating rapidly as soon as the leaf has 

 attained its full size, and thus providing space for the young 

 leaves that follow. The leaves are smooth, of a deep shining 

 green on the upper surface, and purplish on the under-side. 

 The rapidity with which the plant grows and expands its 

 prodigious leaves, when they first appear, curled up inwardly 

 and bristling with prickles, somewhat suggest the appearance 

 of a hedgehog, and is probably not equalled by any other 

 subject in the Vegetable Kingdom. Notwithstanding their rapid 

 growth, however, the leaves will keep in good condition for 

 six or eight weeks after they have become fully developed. A 

 strong, healthy plant, when it has reached the flowering stage, 

 produces, as previously observed, a leaf and a flower, on an 

 average, about every three days, and, as in the case of all other 

 Water Lilies, the flowers are rather short-lived. Two days is the usual 

 limit of their duration, this being one day less than in the case 

 of Nymph^eas, so that it is a rare occurrence for a plant to 

 have two flowers fully expanded at one time. On the first day 

 the flower commences to open about four o'clock in the afternoon, 

 and is fully expanded (excepting the central petals) in about an 

 hour; it is pure white, measures from loin. to i4in. in diameter, 

 and emits an agreeable and powerful odour. The flower keeps 

 open all night, but the following morning it closes up for 

 several hours, but expands for the second and last time about 



