BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN 
LEAFLETS 
Series IX Brooklyn, N.Y., October 19, 1921. No. 8 
THE COLLECTION OF WATER LILIES AT THE 
BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN 
This year the display of water lilies in the out-door conserva- 
tory pools has proved one of our greatest attractions, vying in 
popularity with the Japanese garden, although the latter will 
probably always take first rank as the people’s favorite. The 
conservatory plaza, with its lily pools and gardens, was one of 
Mr. Alfred T. White’s last gifts to the plant lovers of Brooklyn. 
This is its second year in operation. 
It is partly because this feature is so recent a development of 
the Garden that we wish to call attention to it in this Leaflet. Of 
the two pools, the one towards the north is devoted to tropical 
lilies, comprising several species and beautiful hybrids— the latter, 
with their soft shades of blue and carmine, a triumph of the plant 
breeder’s art. The south pool contains hardy species and hybrids 
related to our own white water lily and to its first cousin, the 
European water lily. 
All lovers of these plants should visit these pools now while 
the tropical varieties are still in bloom. Water lilies manifest 
great variation as regards the time of opening their flowers, some 
being classed as night blooming and others as day blooming. 
The best time to catch both sorts in bloom is between eleven and 
twelve of a sunny morning, for between these hours the day 
bloomers have opened up and the night bloomers are not yet closed. 
Perhaps the most interesting plant of all is the Royal Water 
lily, Victoria Cruzia?ia, near the north end of the north pool. It 
is easily recognized by its curiously shaped leaves, resembling 
with marvelous accuracy a huge round tray, with a narrow, erect 
rim, slightly curved inward, and the whole set flat upon the water, 
hence sometimes known as the Giant Water Platter. Another 
name given to it in South America is “ Water Maize,” or ” Water 
Corn,” for the seeds are gathered and eaten by the natives. The 
leaves sometimes attain a diameter of seven to eight feet, and then 
have been shown to be capable of supporting a man’s weight, 
after a light platform has been placed upon them to equalize the 
pressure on all parts of the leaf. Unlike the leaves of other 
plants these are perforated with countless tiny holes through 
which any water from rain or other sources passes, and through 
