28; 



According to G. Watt, M.B., CM., in the Economic plants of 

 India, " The flowers are used as a dry and cold astringent in diarrhoea, 

 cholera, fever and diseases of the liver and are also recommended as 

 a cardiac tonic. The powdered root is prescribed for piles as a de- 

 mulcent, also for dysentry and dyspepsia. The seed forms a cooling 

 medicine for cutaneous diseases, leprosy, and are considered an 

 antidote for poisons. " 



In some districts of India, all parts of the plant are eaten by the 

 natives as articles of food ; — " The roots, which contain a large 

 quantity of starch, are usually boiled though sometimes eaten raw ; 

 the stems are cooked in curries ; the unripe fruit is eaten as a 

 vegetable and the seeds are parched," 



N. L. dentata : — A lovely variety of Nymphaeas having very large, 

 pure white flowers from 6 to 14 inches in diameter. Leaves peltate, 

 very large and serrated at the margins. A very floriferous variety 

 and one of the easiest to cultivate. 



A^. stellata (starry) : — Flov/ers blue and delicately scented, florifer- 

 ous. Leaves peltate, nearly entire. Tropical Africa. 



N. S. zanzibarensis Zanzibar : — One of most beautiful of all the 

 Nymphaeas. Flowers intense blue, anthers slightly shaded with 

 violet; sepals green outside and purple within. 



There are now many varieties of Nymphaeas, the following being 

 among the choicest : — 



Deaniana, flowers rosy-pink, large ; leaves bronzy ; vigorous and 

 free. Kewensis, flowers bright rosy-red, shading of lighter towards 

 the base of the petals, large and freely produced. 



. O'Marana, flowers bright rosy-red ; leaves bronzy, deeply | toothed 

 at margins; free. 



Sturtevantii, flov/ers bright rosy-red, cup-shaped, large and broad- 

 petaled; leaves bronzy and the upper surface deeply toothed at the 

 margins ; shy flowerer but a beautiful variety. 



Tkermalis, flowers white, with a pink tinge, faintly scented. 



Pulcherrima, flowers li^ht blue, remaining a long time expanded, 

 vi-gorous and free. 



Ouviranda, N. O. Naidacea2 ; — A small genus of curious, rare 

 and singularly beautiful plants, both in colour and structure ; natives 

 of Madagascar. The graceful leaves, g or 10 inches long and 2 or 3 

 inches broad, rise 0:1 slender !^t ilks, and spread out hoiizontally just 

 beneath the surface of the wat^r and resemble a living fibrous skeleton 

 rather than a perfect leaf. The flower-stalk rises from the centre of 

 the leaves and the fork-like inflorescence is curious. 



