FROa-BiT TPJBE 20^ 



2. Frog-bit (Eydrdcharis). 



Common Frog-bit (H. vidrstts-rdnce). — Leaves stalked, kidney-shaped, 

 entire ; flowers springing from a membranous sheath ; perennial. The large 

 white clustering blossoms of this plant float on many ponds and stagnant 

 waters during July and August. They are thin and crumpled like the 

 flower of a poppy, but are white and glossy, and sometimes tinged faintly 

 with pink, their satiny surface looking almost like mother-of-pearl in its 

 iridescent hues. The long roots proceed at intervals from the horizontal 

 floating stems, and the glossy green roundish leaves have long stalks, and 

 show very distinctly the veins which run from the base to the tip. The 

 fruit is a roundish leathery capsule, containing many seeds. This plant was 

 called by the old writers Lesser Water Lily. Its name of Frog-bit has its 

 synonym in several Continental countries. It is the Frosc/ibiss of the 

 Germans, and the Vorsdicnheet of the Dutch. The Russians term it 

 LiagiiS'hnik, and the French Morhie ; and it ornaments the still waters of 

 many European lands. It does not occur as a Scottish wild flower, nor is it 

 one of the most common aquatics in England, though if planted it grows 

 very readily, and deserves to be more frequently introduced into the 

 streams and pools of gardens. 



3. AVater-Soldier (Sfrafioics). 



Water- Soldier (S. alokles). — Leaves sword-shaped, triangular, prickly, 

 from a perennial creeping stem. Except in the fenny parts of Norfolk, 

 Lincolnshire, and Cambridgeshire, the Water-Soldier is a rare wild flower, 

 and it is especially so in the north of the kingdom. It is one which would 

 immediately attract attention by its dissimilarity from any other native plant, 

 and its resemblance to an aloe. Its numerous rigid prickly dark-green leaves 

 rise from the creeping runners, which are embedded in the mud at the base 

 of the lake or ditch. The flower-stalk is about five or six inches long, 

 flattened and two-edged. It bears, at its summit, a two-leaved sheath, out 

 of which arise several very pretty, large, delicate white flowers having 

 stamens, or one flower only bearing pistils. During the greater part of the 

 year the plant remains submerged, but it raises itself to light and air during 

 the flowering season, and then sinks to the bottom. The seeds sometimes ' 

 ripen in the waters, but the plant is chiefly increased by oflsets. The joints 

 of the runners are furnished with small drooping buds on long stalks, these 

 buds being composed of two scales folded together, between which may be 

 seen, curiously enfolded, the embryo leaves of the future shoot. The leaves 

 are much like those of the aloe, but of darker green, and have rigid, pellucid, 

 sharply-pointed teeth. It appears to have been planted in the Scottish lakes, 

 as well as in some English pools. It increases so rapidly as to become 

 troublesome in ornamental pieces of water, and is said to be acrid ; and, 

 when growing in large quantities, to injure the water, and render it un- 

 wholesome. It is often called Water Aloe. The French term it Aloides ; 

 and the Germans, JVasserfeder. 



TTI. — 27 



