
AQUATIC PLANTS OF FRESHWATER 

SAGITTARIA 
A small genus of very variable plants of which the number of species 
differs with different authorities, and, though there are quite 100 specific 
names, Micheli has reduced them to 13 species, 4 of which are doubtful. 
They are widely distributed in temperate and torrid regions, and in shallow 
water are effective foliage plants, most of which have the arrewshaped 
leaves from which the name is derived, with small buttercuplike flowers in 
successive whorls on an erect 
scape. They are perennials of 
easy culture, many propagating 
both by runners and seeds, grow 
on the muddy bottoms of shallow 
streams, ponds and lakes, raising 
their leaves above the water. In 
the beds of rapid streams, when 
exposed to a vigorous current, 
the leaf blades are almost entirely 
changed to the form of a spade, 
and not infrequently all traces of 
lamina are absent and the leaf is 
lengthened to form a limp, flat, 
pale-green ribbon much resem- 
bling Vallisneria. This is 
characteristic of S.natans, S. pusilla 
and S. sinensis or S. gigantea, 
which are grown in aquaria and 
sucessfully in shaded ponds in 
summer. 
Sagittaria natans (Mul.) or 
Floating or Ribbon Arrowhead, 
Hig, “112; 1S a Variety of 3. 
pusilla and is the best of all 
aquarium plants, generally to be 
had of dealers in aquatics, who 
propagate it in tanks and aquaria. 
It originates in a tuft on the 
bottom of the water and spreads 
by runners usually in the direc- 

tion of the strongest light. The Fic, 112 
clear-green linear leaves are Floating Arrowhead, a 
: : Sagittaria natans, with rhizoid, blossom, fruit, details of leaf 
nerved their entire length and and a floral leaf. Reduced one-third. 
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