[Illustration: BLUE WATER-LILY]
Aquatic herbs; leaves long-stalked, often floating; flowers solitary,
large; sepals 3-6; petals numerous; stamens numerous; carpels 8 or more.
Blue Water-Lily (_Nymphaea elegans_) is a common water-lily along the
coast of Texas and Mexico, particularly in the vicinity of Corpus
Christi. The flowers vary from nearly white to a purplish-blue or lilac
and are 3-6 in. broad. The floating leaves, about 7 in. broad, are dark
purple below and nearly round; sometimes they have a few scattered teeth
on the margins. The blooms last 3 days, opening about 8 o’clock in the
morning and closing shortly after noon.
Yellow Water-Lily (_Nymphaea flava_) is a yellow-flowered water-lily
found on the Texas and Florida coasts. The sweet-scented white
water-lily is abundant in the southeastern part of the state.
Spatter Dock. Yellow Pond Lily (_Nuphar advena_), with yellow cup-shaped
flowers 2-3 in. broad, is the common water-lily of slow streams and
ponds throughout the state and ranges to Labrador, Florida, and Utah.
The water-lilies form an important food and cover for fish; ducks and
muskrats feed upon the many seeds produced.