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Three novel flavonols, myricetin-3′-O-(6″-p-coumaroyl)glucoside and two epimeric macrocyclic derivatives, as well as the known myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside and pentagalloyl glucose, have been isolated from the wild water lily Nymphaea lotus L. and identified using 2D NMR. This is the first report of such a macrocycle from any source.

Primary hydatidosis of muscle is very rare and can cause a variety of diagnostic problems, especially in the absence of typical radiologic findings. This is the report of a case of primary intramuscular hydatid cyst in a 35-year-old woman, who presented with a 1-year history of a painless lump in the distal left thigh. The authors document the pathognomonic water-lily sign that has not previously been reported in a case of intramuscular hydatid disease.

“Suppose you own a pond on which a water lily is growing. The lily plant doubles in size each day. If the lily were allowed to grow unchecked it would completely cover the pond in 30 days, choking off the other forms of life in the water. For a long time the lily plant seems small, and so you decide not to worry about cutting it back until it covers half the pond. On what day will that be? On the twenty-ninth day, of course. You have one day to save your pond”. (Meadows et al.1972, p. 29)

Echinococcosis (or hydatid disease) is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus or Echinococcus alveolaris. It continues to be endemic in developing countries including India. Liver is the most common organ involved but the parasite can affect any organ in the body. A 45 year old lady who presented with abdominal pain was subjected to ultrasonography and MRI of the abdomen which showed the characteristic “water lily sign” of hydatid cyst. Patient underwent pericystectomy, and on followup screening ultrasound has remained free of disease recurrence.

Professor Eldridge’s paper is an attempt to shed light on the genesis and rationality of animism, which is the belief that human beings have souls, or, by extension, the belief that animals, plants or even rocks have souls; that is, that they are subjects of feeling or consciousness, or display intelligence, in ways that ensouled human beings do.1

Summary Fractionation studies of radiocaesium have been carried out in three Nordic lakes, Ovre Heimdalsvatn in Norway, Hillesjon in Sweden and Saarisjarvi in Finland. These lakes differ markedly in several aspects and provide insight into the factors determining radionuclide transport in a range of lake ecosystems. Transport of 137 Cs in plant material (Coarse Particulate Organic Matter, CPOM) was about 17 times greater to Ovre Heimdalsvatn than Saarisjarvi, although over 99% of the inflow CPOM was retained in both lakes. Inflows to Hillesjon were an order of magnitude lower than to Saarisjarvi and the net retention was only 71%, on account of the outflow of autochthonous production, largely water lily fragments. With regard to the water phase, the lakes differed in the activity of 137 Cs in the various molecular weight fractions. This was a function of catchment processes, resuspension and biological activity in the lakes. In Ovre Heimdalsvatn and Saarisjarvi 45% of the 137 Cs in the water phase was retained in the lake, while in Hillesjon ten times more 137 Cs flowed out than flowed in, due to resuspension of 137 Cs-rich sediments.

Different types of cells have been imaged with the atomic force microscope. The morphology of the archaebacterium Halobacterium halobium in its dry state was revealed. On a leaf of the small Indian tree Lagerstroemia subcostata a stoma was imaged. The lower side of a water lily leaf was imaged in water showing features down to 12 nm. Finally, fixed red and white blood cells were imaged in buffer showing features down to 8 nm. The images demonstrate that atomic force microscopy can provide high-resolution images of cell surfaces under physiological conditions.

The water-lilly leaf beetle Galerucella nymphaeae is a specialist herbivore of the floating-leaved Nuphar lutea. Floating leaves occur in patches with different densities. I studied experimentally the oviposition responses to spatially varying patch characteristics. In the manipulations I changed density of leaves, quality (as measured by the previous herbivory) of leaves and number of eggs laid on a leaf

A cyanide-insensitive superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) was purified from leaves of the water lily Nuphar luteum (L.) Sibth. and Smith Subsp. macrophyllum (Small) Beal. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 46,000 and was composed of two equally sized subunits. Metal analysis showed the protein to contain about 1 gram atom of iron per dimer. The iron-containing superoxide dismutase was sensitive to H(2)O(2) as well as to azide. Antibody to the protein did not cross-react with iron superoxide dismutase isolated from the eucaryote Brassica or with algal extracts.

1. The numbers and types of flies resting on water-lily leaves varied through the diurnal cycle. The different patterns of occupancy were recorded in relation to time of day and to microclimatic conditions at the leaf surface. 2. Overall fly activity on the leaves varied according to gross climatic patterns on particular days. The timing of activity differed according to species. 3. Smaller, darker flies (especially ernpids and Notiphila) were common on the leaves early and late in the day, with the more reflective dolichopodids occurring only towards midday and in full sun. Hence there were clearcut correlations between both the size and reflectance properties of flies, and the climate (in particular radiation received at the leaf surface); though this pattern was superimposed on a diurnal activity effect. 4. The timing of insect activity on the leaves could therefore be related to hygrothermal considerations, particularly the raising and maintenance of body temperature and avoidance of heat stress. Different types of fly used the favourable microclimate around the leaves as a resting site at times appropriate to their own biological requirements.

The grey scale ultrasound features of liver hydatid disease have been evaluated on 65 surgically proven cysts in 38 patients. The majority of cysts showed the well-known ultrasound pattern of simple cysts. However, a minority of lesions were either multicystic or gave the appearance of a cyst within a cyst. Occasionally cysts showed a feature which we have called “the ultrasonographic water lily sign”. Hydatid sand was also occasionally seen in the most dependent portion of hydatid cysts. We have noted that if a hydatid cyst becomes secondarily infected these typical ultrasound patterns are lost and the ultrasound diagnosis may then become more difficult.

Contemporary reference to the role of water lilies and mandrakes (Nymphaea and Mandragora, respectively) in ancient Egyptian healing, and subsequent research on the iconography of the water lily in Mayan shamanistic ritual, suggest the possible importance of these plants as adjuncts to shamanistic healing in dynastic Egypt. Although the usual interpretation of the water lily and the mandrake has been that of a part of ritual mourning, the present article revises this notion. Based on an extensive review of these two powerful narcotic (i.e., hypnotic) plants in iconography and ritual, it is argued that the dynastic Egyptians had developed a form of shamanistic trance induced by these two plants and used it in medicine as well as healing rituals. Analysis of the ritual and sacred iconography of dynastic Egypt, as seen on stelae, in magical papyri, and on vessels, indicates that these people possessed a profound knowledge of plant lore and altered states of consciousness. The abundant data indicate that the shamanistic priest, who was highly placed in the stratified society, guided the souls of the living and dead, provided for the transmutation of souls into other bodies and the personification of plants as possessed by human spirits, as well as performing other shamanistic activities.

Comparisons are made between ancient ritual uses of the flowers of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) in Maya and Egyptian civilizations. Recurrent motifs encountered in the art of both of these ancient civilizations suggests that the role fo the water lily was that of a narcotic (psychodysleptic) used to mediate ecstasis among a priestly caste. Relevant literature is reviewed as are chemical data. Elements in the complex belief systems of these two civilizations need to be reinterpreted in view of the use of two water lilies as ritual narcotics. The species implicated are Nymphaea caerulea Sav., in Egypt, and N. ampla DC., among the Maya.

1. The mean daily food indices are determined for different developmental stages of Galerucella nymphaeae L. feeding on Nymphaea candida and Nuphar luteum (table III). 2. 50% of the starving males die in 10.5 days, 50% of the starving females die in 15 days (table I). 3. The oxygen consumption of the larvae and imagines decreases during six-hour experiments. The upper points seem to correspond to the excited state of animals in the beginning of the experiment. Therefore the curves of the oxygen consumption by the motionless animals during 24 hours are drawn on the lower points. The diurnal rythm of the oxygen consumption is almost not expressed (fig. 2, table II). 4. Caloric quotient of oxygen was chosen with regard for the material oxidated, by the corresponding RQ. The energy expenditure in respiration was calculated for the temperature of the determination of the mean food indices. The indices of the excessive consumption of food are 9.7–16.9 (table III).

1. Emersed water plants transpire large amounts of water. 2. With one exception (water lily), the evaporation taking place from a water surface occupied by emersed water plants is much greater than that which takes place from a free water surface of the same area and subjected to the same external conditions. 3. The amount of evaporation from a water surface on which water lilies are growing is less than that which takes place from a free water surface of the same area and subjected to the same external conditions. 4. The amount of evaporation from a water surface occupied by emersed water plants depends upon the following factors: (a) the species of plant; (b) the density of plant stand; (c) the amount of plant surface exposed to the evaporating power of the air; (d) the height of the plant growth above the level of the water; (e) external factors (physical factors, like wind, temperature, relative humidity, etc.); (f) internal factors (chemical and physiological phenomena within the plant). 5. Transpira...

Frequently, mathematical models describing problems stated in words appear trivial in hindsight. This is because the crucial insight needed to formulate the model is divulged by the structure of the model.

In reconstructing early uses of psychotogens in Mesoamerica, mushrooms have occupied the attention of botanists and anthropologists almost the exclusion of other plant motifs. Not all the images and literary fragments extant lend themselves to mycological interpretation. Some authors have interpreted the peltate leaves and flower buds of the psychotogen Nymphaea ampla as being green mushrooms and/or stalked sea shells. The context of presentation, information on the water lily in Maya antiquity, and recent information on the chemistry of this white water lily suggest that we must reassess the role of Nymphaea ampla. In a reevaluation of these ancient literary and iconographic sources, it would seem that both mushrooms and water lilies emerge as important ritual psychotogens. While the contextual use of mushrooms is well known, the water lily has been largely ignored. This presentation provides some perspective on both of these important New World narcotics.

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The uptake of35S-labelled sulfate ions into hydropote cells (densely cytoplasmic gland cells) and into epidermal cells (highly vacuolated cells) ofNymphaea leaves is dependent on metabolic energy. Only a very small fraction of the accumulated35S is incorporated into organic macromolecules during the experimental period. Both cell types exhibit a hyperbolic isotherm for35S uptake from labelled K2SO4 solutions over an external concentration range of 0 to 0.5mm. Although the gland and epidermal cells behave qualitatively similarly, the glands generally absorb about twice as much35S per unit area of sections of the cells as do the epidermal cells. At 3 °C, poly-l-lysine concentrations of 10−8 m and up to 10−7 m enhance35S uptake by the epidermal and gland cells for the first 7.5 hr after application of the poly-l-lysine. Samples treated with 5×10−7 m poly-l-lysine are indistinguishable from the controls over the same period. After longer periods of treatment with poly-l-lysine (7.5 to 24 hr), the rates of35S uptake were reduced by all poly-l-lysine concentrations between the range 10−8 to 5×10−7 m. After 7.5 hr of35S uptake, the control samples contained the smallest amount of label, but after an uptake period of 24 hr the amount of label in the controls is considerably larger than in samples treated with poly-l-lysine. The results suggest that poly-l-lysine increases the membrane permeability and alters the metabolic uptake of sulfate in both hydropotes and epidermal cells.

The association of the water-lily with architecture and art is one of the most familiar visual aspects of the ancient Egyptian culture. However, the earliest representations of the water-lily date only to the Naqada III period. The finds of that period are discussed using the available archaeological and environmental data. An interdisciplinary approach allows the interpretation of the symbolic meaning of the plant within the cultural context of daily life and the ancient Egyptian landscape. Small stone and faience cosmetic vessels in the shape of the water-lily flower refer to its odorous qualities and by extension to beauty. The faience vessels were found in temple deposits, illustrating the symbolic importance of the flower. Rattles in the shape of water-lily buds extend the idea of beauty to that of music. The association with cosmetics and music point to the more pleasant side of elite life, which must have been the reason for the integration of the water-lily into Early Dynastic iconography. The sud...

The contents of scandium, yttrium and the rare earth elements, determined by spark source mass spectrometry, for water lily, Nuphar lutea (Willd.) Pers., from Dow Loch (Scotland) have been compared with those for the National Bureau of Standards Orchard Leaf SRM 1571 and Dow Loch sediment. In contrast to the conclusions from a recent North American study of aquatic plants no evidence of accumulation of any of these elements has been found.