NYMPHÆA, the WATER-LILY; a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the polyandria class of plants. There are four species; of which the most remarkable are, 1, 2. The lutea and alba, or yellow and white water-lilies; both of which are natives of Britain, growing in lakes and ditches. Linnaeus tells us, that swine are fond of the leaves and roots of the former; and that the smoke of it will drive away crickets and blattæ, or cock-roaches, out of houses.—The root of the second has an astringent and bitter taste, like those of most aquatic plants that run deep into the mud. The Highlanders make a dye with it of a dark chestnut colour. 3. In the East and West Indies grows a species of this plant, named nelumbo by the inhabitants of Ceylon. The leaves which rest upon the surface of the water, are smooth, undivided, perfectly round, thick, target-shaped, and about one foot and a half in diameter. The footstalk of the leaves is prickly; and inserted, not into their base, or margin, as in most plants, but in the centre of the lower disk or surface. From this centre, upon the upper surface, issue, like rays, a great number of large ribs, or nerves, which towards the circumference are divided and subdivided into a small number of very minute parts. The flowers are large, flesh-coloured, and consist of numerous petals, disposed, as in the other species of water-lily, in two or more rows. The seed-vessel is shaped like a top, being broad and circular above, narrow and almost pointed below. It is divided into several distinct cells, which form so many large round holes upon the surface of the fruit; each containing a single seed.—With the flower of this plant, which is sacred among the heathens, they adorn the altars of their temples: they paint their gods sitting upon it; and make use of such pictures to animate the minds of the pious on their death-bed, and to raise their affections to heaven. The stalks, which are used as a pot-herb, are of a wonderful length. The root is very long, extends itself transversely, is of the thickness of a man's arm, jointed and fibrous, with long intervals betwixt the joints. The fibres surround the joints in verticilli, or whirls.