The Chinese, in some places of that over-populated country, grow the Water Lilies upon their lakes for the sake of the nourishment yielded by the roots and seeds.
“Lotus-eaters,” says that valuable writer on the Medical Botany of America, Dr. Charles Lee, “not only abound in Egypt, but all over the East.” “The large fleshy roots of the Nelumbium luteum, or great Yellow Water Lily, found in our North American lakes, resembles the Sweet Potato (Batatas edulis), and by some of the natives are esteemed equally agreeable and wholesome,” observes the same author, “being used as food by the Indians, as well as some of the Tartar tribes.”
As yet little value has been attached to this charming plant, the White Pond Lily, because its uses have been unknown. It is one of the privileges of the botanist and naturalist to lay open the vegetable treasures that are so lavishly bestowed upon us by the bountiful hand of the Great Creator.
| [6] | In that singular plant, the Eel or Tapegrass, a plant indigenous to our slow flowing waters, the elastic flower-bearing stem uncoils to reach the surface of the water, drawn thither by some mysterious hidden attraction towards the pollen-bearing flowers, which are produced at the bottom of the water on very short scapes, and which, united by the same vegetable instinct, break away from the confining bonds that hold them and rise to the surface, where they expand and scatter their fertilizing dust upon the fruit-bearing flowers which float around them; these, after a while, coil up again and draw the pod-like ovary down to the bottom of the water, there to ripen and perfect the fruit; a curious fact vouched for by Gray and many other creditable botanists. |
YELLOW POND LILY.
(SPATTER DOCK.)
Nuphar advena.
And there the bright Nymphæa loves to lave,
And spreads her golden orbs along the dimpling wave.
