AMERICAN WATERLILY 



Castalia odorata (Dryander) Woodville and Wood 



The lure of ponds and shallow streams never seems more insist- 

 ent than when the waterlilies open in the early morning. Thoreau, 

 speaking of the Merrimac River, says, "I have passed down the river 

 before sunrise on a summer morning, between fields of lilies still shut 

 in sleep; and when at length, the flakes of sunlight from over the 

 bank fell on the surface of the water, whole fields of white blos- 

 soms seemed to flash open before me, as I floated along, like the 

 unfolding of a banner, so sensible is this flower to the influence of 

 the sun's rays." 



Shelley also sings of their rare beauty: 



****floating waterlilies broad and bright, 

 Which lit the oak that overhung the ledge 

 With moonlit beams of their own light. 



The fresh fragrance of these beautiful flowers is attractive not 

 only to the flower lover but to the host of insects which visit them. 

 The stamens and pistils mature at different times, thus cross-pollina- 

 tion is accomplished by the insect visitors. 



The flowers may be pure white, or tinged with pink. The leaves, 

 shaded with maroon on the under side, are almost as beautiful as 

 the flowers. 



The American waterlily is found from Florida to Louisiana and 

 Kansas, and northward to Newfoundland and Manitoba. 



The specimen sketched grew near Washington, District of Co- 

 lumbia. 



PLATE 2_2_3 



