POLYANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Nuphar. 653 
(NU'PHAR. Cal . five or six-leaved: Pet . numerous, inserted 
with the stamens on the receptacle, furrowed and bear¬ 
ing honey at their backs : Berry many-celled, coated. E.) 
N. lute 'a. (Leaves heart-shaped, the lobes approximating: calyx five¬ 
leaved, much larger than the petals : border of the stigma entire: 
foot-stalks two-edged. E.) 
{Hook. FI Lond. 141. E.)— Fl.Dan. 603— Blackw. 497. a and b, and 499.1— 
F.JBot. 159— Lonic. i. 177. 2—Kniph. 3—Fuchs. 536— Trag. 697 —J.B. iii. 
771'— Matth. 894— Clus. ii. 77. 2 — Bod. 585. 2—Lob. Obs. 324. 2. and Ic. 
i. 594. 2—Ger. Em. 819. 2 —Park. 1252. 6—Pet. 71. 3—Ger. 672. 2. 
Leaves egg-shaped, with a deep notch at the base, (floating on the surface 
of water, very large and smooth. E.) Calyx, leaves yellow, except at 
the base on the outside, where they are green. Petals fleshy, golden 
yellow. Stamens after shedding their pollen reflexed. Seed-vessel, 
cells often more than fifteen, (egg-shaped, in a degree beaked, smooth. 
Flowers on long fruit-stalks, two inches in diameter, concave cylindrical. 
Seed-vessel bursting irregularly when ripe. E.) 
stalks in deep water. It may be propagated by transplanting the bulbous roots in winter. 
Mr. Stackhouse. Botanists often affect to despise the labours of the Florist, who wishes, by 
multiplying the petals, to produce double flowers, stigmatizing them by the name of 
monsters. They may be monsters; but they are beautiful monsters. Who does 
not admire the flower of the double-blossomed cherry? And when, as in the White 
Water Lily, the petals are naturally multiplied to a great degree, he who turns 
away with disdain from this splendid object of creation, must be fastidious indeed. 
The petals gradually lessen as they approach the centre of the flower, where the outer 
filaments expanding in breadth, assume the form of petals, as is generally the case in the 
double flowers of gardens. (In Japan, either natural or artificial White Water Lilies, as the 
symbols of purity, are borne on poles before the corpse in funeral processions. The fervid 
imagination of the Eastern poet represents the eyes of his mistress as rivalling the sun itself 
in awakening the Water-lily ; causing it, in error, to emerge from its watery couch. But, 
discarding metaphor, the economy of this plant is indeed particularly worthy of notice. 
Emulating the sacred Lotos of the Nile, the flowers arise and expand as the sun gains its 
ascendancy, close towards evening, and in that state either repose through the night 
reclining on the bosom of the water, or actually sunk beneath its surface, till revived by the 
return of day; when 
“ The Water-lily to the light 
Her chalice rears of silver bright.” Scott. 
“ Those virgin Lilies , all the night 
Bathing their beauties in the lake. 
That they may rise more fresh and bright 
When their beloved sun’s awake.” Moore. 
The action of the stimulus of light in this instance is peculiarly obvious, expanding, and 
thereby raising the flower, as Sir J. E. Smith interprets, <c that the pollen may reach the 
stigma uninjured :—afterwards, by contraction, losing its buoyancy and sinking from its 
own weight, as the more ponderous fruit ultimately does to the muddy bottom, therein 
gradually decomposing into a gelatinous mass, and depositing its seeds. E.) The tuberous 
roots are used in Ireland, and in the island of Jura/to dye a dark brown ; (they have been 
esteemed narcotic. E.) Swine eat it. Goats are not fond of it. Cows and horses refuse 
it. (Both the species support Aphis aquatilis and Lepiura aquatica. This superb flower 
must constitute the chief decoration of ornamental ponds, or basins. Chinese carps, 
(Cyprinus auratus ), are said to delight in the shade of its expansive foliage. 
Oxygen gas is copiously evolved in bubbles from the leaves. In Turkey and Greece 
an agreeable cordial beverage is prepared from the leaves and flowers. Sturm. The 
orientals consider the large roots of this tribe of plant as esculent: whether our species 
may be rendered innoxious by boiling might be worthy of experiment. E.) 
