VICTORIA REGIA, a magnificent water lily, of gigantic size, which is found in South American streams, especially in the tributaries of the Amazon. It was discovered by Haenke in Bolivia in 1801 and, later, was introduced with great difficulty to horticulture. The first flower that bloomed in England was presented to Queen Victoria, in honor of whom the genus was named. The Indians of British Guiana called it the water-platter, in reference to its remarkable floating leaves, which are six feet or more across, and are circular with an up turned rim several inches high. These gigantic leaves are orbicular-peltate and provided with prickly petioles longer than the depth of the water on which they float —an apparent pro vision ag.ainst submersion by changes in river level. The leaf-tissues are full of air-spaces and eanals, which render the leaves so buoyant that they can support from 100 to 200 pounds of weight; the crimson under-surface is re ticulated with many veins, protected by stout, fleshy prickles. The leaf also is punctured with minute holes, possibly for the escape of water from its fenced4n upper surface. The water
lily-like flowers are more than a foot across, nocturnal and open on two successive even ings. The first time a Victoria opens the inner petals over the stigma remain unexpanded and the flowers are creamy white, with a delicious fragrance. It closes the next forenoon, to open again at dark, this time expandiq to its fullest extent, but has become rose-red in color and with a disagreeable odor. The flower is then closed forever and is withdrawn beneath the surface of the water. The fruits are like peas, hidden in the cells of a dilated torus or globular prickly capsule about as large as a cocoanut and the starchy nuts are called (water corn" in Paraguay, where they are used for food. The Victona is found in shallow inlets, lakes and pools in bogs. and has tuberous ver tical rhizomes moored by stout, spongy roots. It is easily cultivated in greenhouses or in out door heated tanks.