BUCK-BEAN. 83 



cate five-petaled, liliac-coloured flowers. Polygonum 

 amphibium is an aquatic species which may be easily 

 transferred to a tank, and which readily flourishes 

 there. Its bright, light-red flower spikes raise them- 

 selves just above the semi-floating leaves, and look 

 very pretty indeed. But of all our British plants 

 affecting moist habitats, surely none is so lovely as 

 the buck-bean (Menyanthes trifoliata). It will not 



Fig- 35- 



Buck-bean (Menyanthes trifoliata). 



flourish in the water, but may be so potted as to grow 

 on the margin, at the top of rockwork which may be 

 arranged at one end of the tank. In this position its 

 bright deep green trifoliate leaves, and pale pink and 



G 2 



