* *Laminæ foliorum peltatæ.
Mystica, C. foliorum laminis suborbicularibus, argute dentatis, utrisqude glabris: toro medioliformi: petalis interioribus minimis.
Nymphæa Lotus, Sims in Bot. Mag. p. 797. cum Ic. Nymphæa Lotus, Pl. Rar. Hung. v. l. p. 13. f. 15. Nymphæa Lotus, Willd. Sp. Pl. v. 2. p. 1153. Nymphæa Lotus, Savign. in Ann. du Mus. v. 1. p. 366. Nymphæa Lotus. Hasselq. Res.p. 471. Lotus, &c. Alp. Exot. p. 214. cum figuris.
Crescit juxta Peeze in Hungary, aquis calidis.
Though I have followed other authors in quoting the above synonyms, I am not absolutely certain that the Hungarian plant here taken up, is the same with the Ægyptian Lotus; for in that, Savigny says, the Petioles are hispid, and Hasselquist describes the Peduncles perforated with only 4 large tubes; in this the whole Herba is smooth, and the Peduncles are perforated with 6 large tubes. The Flowers have the brandy-like smell of Nymphæa Lutea, Linn., continuing expanded till the evening.
Sacra. C. foliorum laminis ovalibus, dentatis, subtus pubescentibus maculatisque: petalis albis, parum inæqualibus.
Nymphæa Lotus, Marquis of Blandf. in Bot. Rep. n. 391. cum Ic. Nymphæa pubescens, Willd. Sp. Pl. v. 2. p. 1154. Nymphæa Lotus, Roxb. MSS. Ambel, Rheed. Hort. Mal. v. 11. p. 51. f. 26.
Sponte nascentem in Hindostan, paludibus, legit G. Roxburgh.
The flowers of this and the following Castalia, which are both sacred plants in Hindostan, expand in our climate from the very first twilight to about 10 A.M. after which they gradually close, being quite shut by noon. In this their odour is pungent and vinous, but very different from that of the Hungarian Lotus.
Magnifica. Tab. 14. 15. C. foliorum laminis suborbicularibus, dentatis, subtus pubescentibus immaculatisque: petalis puniceis, parum inæqualibus.
Nymphæa Rubra, Roxb MSS.
Sponte nascentem in Hindostan, paludibus, legit G. Roxburgh.
I have only seen a single specimen of this truly magnificent plant, which flowered for the first time in this country in a large tub of water plunged in a common hotbed, at J. Vere's, Esq. It appears from Dr. Roxburgh's valuable manuscripts, preserved in Sir Joseph Banks's library, that the flowers are sometimes 7 or 8 inches diameter and isodorous. He regards this and the foregoing as varieties, but I am induced to believe they are legitimate species for the following reasons: 1st. The leaves of this are rounder and often variegated with large deep red blots on their upper surface, but never spotted on their under surface; 2dly, The dichotomous branches of the primary nerves are more frequently uninterrupted by transverse nerves till they reach the margin; 3dly, the œconomy of the flower in this genus renders any adulterous intercourse with other species very difficult. Both these Hindostan plants are well established in the princely aquarium of the Marquis of Blandford, where I hope another year to have the honour of describing them minutely, and fully ascertaining whether they should be kept separate or joined together.
