100 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



marked in an areolated manner, by the projections of the promi- 

 nent branchings on the under surface/' 1 



One purpose served by this elevated reticulated venation, is the 

 buoyancy which is communicated to the leaf from the large air- 

 cells which pervade the leaf stalk, and its numerous branchings. 

 Sir Robert H. Schomburgh says, that "many parts of the smooth 

 water were covered by these gigantic leaves, and studded with the 

 magnificent flowers, which in addition to their other attractions, are 

 sweet scented.' ' This truly superb floral Titan, forms the type of 

 a new genus, which (by permission of Her present Majesty) is 

 called Victoria, to which the appropriate specific appellation regia 

 has been added. The " Victoria regia" certainly well deserves its 

 characteristic name from its magnitude, its elegance of form, its 

 brilliant colouring, and delicious fragrance. 2 The Nymphmacem 

 exhibit an interesting instance of the organic sensibility of the ve- 

 getable organs, manifested by the action of heat and light. Other 

 plants, as is well known, expand and close their flowers on the al- 

 ternate approach of day and night. For example, " Papaver nudi- 

 caule" (Linn.), " Sonchus oleraceus" (Linn.), " Anagallis arvensis " 

 (Linn.), " Calendula arvensis " (Linn.), " Ornithogalum umbellatum" 

 (Linn.), " Silene noctiflora " (Linn.), &c, &c, but the flowers of the 

 water lily tribe, in addition to this common habit, are elevated 

 above or buried beneath the surface of the water on similar occa- 

 sions. This curious circumstance appears to have been very early 

 observed by the ancient naturalists; for Theophrastus describing 

 the Egyptian Lotus (believed by botanists to be " Nelumbium speci- 

 osum") says "The leaves of the flowers (petals) at sunset fold them- 



1 For a history of this remarkable aquatic, see Botanical Magazine for 1847, 

 tab. 4275 — 4278, and for a more full account, see "Figures and Description of 

 the Victoria Water Lily," by Sir William Hooker, published by Messrs. Reeve, 

 in Imperial folio. 



2 On a recent visit to the Conservatories at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew, 

 this splendid plant was in full perfection, with its enormous leaves and flowers, 

 which has recently been the object of so much attention ; other aquatics scarcely 

 less interesting were observed, viz., the "Nelumbium speciosum" supposed to 

 be tho sacred Egyptian Beau, found throughout the East Indies, but no longer 

 in Egypt; the " Nymphcea cccrulea ," and tho crimson "N. Cavendishi" illus- 

 trating the brilliancy and variety of colour in this beautiful order. 



