526 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



producing leaves and flowers. The leaves wlien full grown 

 measure 6 or 7 feet in diameter, and are perfectly circular, 

 with the margin turned up about 2 inches, resembling a 

 large tray. The under side is full of raised ribs, and very 

 prickly. They are attached by their centre to a stalk which, 

 when full grown, is often not less than 10 feet in length, and 

 about the thickness of the finger. The leaves are produced 

 in succession round the crown from right to left, each, 

 when the plant is perfect, producing a flower-bud in its axis 

 which gradually rises on a stalk to the surface, opening in 

 the afternoon. The flower consists of numerous petals of a 

 pure white, and when fully expanded is from 10 inches to 1 

 foot in diameter ; it then emits a powerful and pleasant odour. 

 During the morning of the next day it partially closes, ex- 

 panding again in the afternoon, the colour then being pink, 

 and on the third day it finally closes and withers. 



This and Cereus Macdonaldice are the most magnificent of 

 flowers, even rivalling Magnolia grandijiora. 



The Water Bean Family. 



(Nelumbiace^). 



Aquatics, with large round peltate leaves, floating on, or 

 rising above the surface of the water, and produced from a 

 fleshy rhizomat. Flowers solitary on a scape equal in height 

 to the leaves. Sepals 4 or 5. Petals numerous. Stamens 

 numerous, seated below an elevated spongy receptacle (or 

 torus). Ovaries numerous, embedded in the apex of a large 

 spongy receptacle, becoming a very hard nut. 



This family consists of probably not more than three species, 

 natives of India, China, Jamaica, and some parts of America, 

 and have lately been discovered in the interior of Australia. 



Lotus (Nelumbium speciosum). Although this has been 

 said to be the Sacred Lotus of the Egyptians, there seems 

 some doubt as to its identification It is abundant in India, 

 where its rhizomat stems are used for food, but more so in 



