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XVI. Observations on thfe Zizania aquatica. By Aylmer Bourke 
LamMt, Esq. F.R.S. V.P.L.S. 
Head December 6, 1803. 
ZIZANIA AQUATICA. 
Z<izania panieula inferne racemosa superne spicata. 
Tab. XIII. 
Z. aquatica. Linn. Sp. Plant. 1408. 
Z. palustris. Linn. Mant. 2. 295. 
Z. palustris. Schreb. Gram. p. 54~ tab. 29. 
The seed of Zizania aquatica in a vegetating state from America 
was long a desideratum among the botanists of this country ; for 
although seeds were received here at different times, yet none of 
them grew. At last Dr. Nooth, by the desire of Sir Joseph Banks, 
sent them from the lakes of Canada, put up in jars of water. As 
soon as they arrived they were sown in a proper situation, where 
they came up in a few days, and the plants ripened their seeds 
extremely well in the autumn. In a pond at Spring-Grove Sir 
Joseph Banks has a great quantity of this plant, growing annu- 
ally, ripening its seeds, and sowing itself round the edges ; and 
I am persuaded that it might be sown with some advantage 
where no other grain will grow, in many shallow pieces of water 
in Great Britain and Ireland, especially in the latter country, 
where I have seen several extensive lakes which appear well suited 
for the purpose. It grows in great abundance in the lakes of 
Canada ; 
