This circumstance is noticed by Moore, in his Lalla Rookh. 
“ Those virgin Lilies all l he night 
B ithing their beauties in the lake, 
That they might rise more fiesh and bright 
\\ hen their beloved sun’s awake.” 
Sir J. E. Smith observes, that the action of the stimulus of light 
in this instance is peculiarly obvious, expanding, and thereby raising 
the flower above the water that the pollen may reach the stigma 
uninjured ; and when that stimulus ceases to act, they close again, 
drooping by their own weight to a certain depth. The still more 
ponderous fruit sinks to the bottom, where it gradually decomposes 
into a gelatinous mass, and deposits its seeds. 
The roots have a bitter astringent taste ; they are used in Ire- 
land, in the Highlands of Scotland, and in the Island of Jura, &c. 
to dye a dark brown or chesnut colour. They were formerly em- 
ployed medicinally as astringents, but their use is now become 
almost obsolete, being seldom resorted to as styptics, and only oc- 
casionally chewed by singers to relieve relaxation of the uvula and 
soft palate, give firmness to the vocal organs, and clear the voice. 
Swine and goats are said to eat the Water Lily ; cows, horses, and 
sheep, to refuse it. Chinese carps ( Cyprinus auratus, Linn.y are 
said to delight in the shade of its expansive foliage. 
Oxygen gas is copiously evolved in bubbles from its leaves. 
In Japan the White Water Lily is considered as an emblem of 
purity, and flowers of it, and of Motherwort, are borne in procession 
before the body in their f uneral ceremonies ; these are carried in 
pots : artificial Water Lilies of white paper are also borne on poles. 
Sturm informs us, in his Deutschland Flora, that in Turkey and 
Greece an agreeable cordial beverage is prepared from the leaves 
and flowers. 
The following lines, from Mrs. Hemans’ National Lyrics, are so beautifully 
descriptive of the flowers of this noble plant, that any apology from me, for in- 
troducing them here, will, I trust, be unnecessary. 
Come away, elves ! while the dew is sweet, 
Come to the dingles where fairies meet; 
Know that the Lilies have spread their bells, 
O’er all the pools in our forest dells ; 
Stilly and lightly their vases rest 
On the quivering sleep of the water’s breast, 
Catching the sunshine thro’ leaves that throw 
To their scented bosoms an emerald glow ; 
And a star from the depth of each peaily cup, 
A golden star unto heaven looks up, 
As if seeking its kindred, where bright they lie, 
Set in the blue of the summer sky. 
Come away ! under arching boughs we'll float, 
Making those urns each a fairy boat ; 
We’ll row them with reeds o’er the fountain free, 
A nd a tall flag-leaf shall our streamer be ; 
And we’ll send out wild music so sweet and low, 
It shall seem from the bright flower’s heart to flow. 
As if 'twere a breeze with a flute’s low sigh, 
Or water-drops trained into melody. 
Come away ! for the Midsummer sun grows strong, 
And the life of the Lily may not be long.’’ 
