96 
BOTANICAE INDEX. 
the present time to such an extent, that for 
a perfect understanding of the subject we 
must give more detail than to simply say, 
“ a Greek or Roman legend.” This being 
our apology for deviating from the proposed 
subject, we will now dismiss ancient myth- 
ology, and talk of modern reality. 
In all the tropical and temperate portions 
of the world, particularly in the northern 
hemisphere, is found a peculiar aquatic plant, 
with large roundish or peltate leaves that 
float upon the surface of the water, which 
are among the loveliest products of the floral 
world. They are, however, by no means new 
to travelers or even to science, and have been 
so often described that it would be almost 
Fig. 60 .—Nymphcea Odorata. useless to repeat a description here. But there 
are some points of special interest that may not be generally known, that we will 
notice. We will first give the known species as recorded by Paxton, and others, 
with their synonyms; also, a column giving their native country, color of flowers, 
and date of discovery, while the last column but one contains the letters, “ H.” for 
hardy, “T.” for tropical, and “ S. T.” for sub-tropical, to serve as a guide to culti- 
vators living between 35“ and 48“ north latitude, in America; but in Europe, as the 
isothermal line is nearly 10“ further north, it would probably be from about 45“ to 
nearly 60“ north latitude. 
Species. 
Synonyms. 
Alba 
Amazonica 
N. blanda, fcetida and Lotus, in part 
Flava 
Rubra 
Scutifolea 
N. cserulea, Lotus Lunan, Castalia scutifolia... 
Tuberosa 
N. alba of Nutt, N. reniformis of D. C 
Habitat. 
Color of FI. 
Du. 
North, and Central Europe... 
White, 
H. 
Canada 
White 
11. 
1820 
Jamaica 
Yel. gr.... 
T. 
1856 
Jamaica 
White 
T. 
1801 
Trinidad 
White 
T. 
1820 
Egypt : 
Blue 
T. 
1792 
T. 
1809 
Sierra Leoue 
White 
T. 
Florist Hvbrid 
T. 
1848 
East Indies 
White 
T. 
Mexico 
Wh. blue. 
T. 
1848 
Florida 
Yellow .... 
S.T. 
1870 
Australia 
Blue 
T. 
1848 
Egypt 
Wh. pink. 
T. 
1802 
T. 
1848 
H 
1812 
1803 
Siberia 
White 
H. 
Nort h America 
White 
H. 
1786 
East Indies 
White 
T. 
1806 
China 
White 
H. 
1805 
Carolina 
White 
T. 
1823 
East Indies 
Red 
T. 
1806 
East Indies 
Pink 
T. 
1806 
Cape of Good Hope 
Blue 
S.T. 
1792 
East Indies 
Blue 
T. 
1S06 
Hungary 
White 
S T. 
1800 
H. 
18G5 
1807 
Pink wh... 
T. 
This makes twenty-eight accepted species, five of which are found growing within 
the limits of the United States. To this list we might add the variety with pink 
flowers, so common through some portions of the Northern States, for it certainly 
seems quite as distinct as some of the varieties of plants honored with a distinct 
name ; but as competent authority declines to do so, we will only speak of the two 
forms of one species, in their proper place. 
NYMPHO A FLAVA. Lutren. 
In the picture on page 94, we wish to represent 
the peculiar manner of growth of Nymphcea flava, 
from Florida, the last addition to the list of 
Nymphcea ■ and as Mrs. Treat, who re-discovered 
it, has studied it in its habitat, we will copy her 
description, as published in Harper’s Magazine, 
for August, 1877. She says : 
“The rhizoma is not creeping, as in the white 
water-lily, but always stands in an upright posi- 
tion, and I have never found it more than a foot 
Fig. 61 . — Root of N. Odorata. 
