
AQUATIC PLANTS OF FRESHWATER 

root and propagates both by seed and by summer runners, upon which 
buds are developed which become young plants. The kidneyshaped leaves 
grow on long stems, and the 1% inch in diameter flowers have three petals 
upon an erect scape. 
It is fairly hardy and 
easy to propagate in 
pondsinamildclimate, 
but does not thrive well 
in the household aqua- 
rium. Many of the 
water insects and most 
of the pond snails at- 
tack its leaves. At 
the approach of cold 
weather the leaves de- 
cay and the winter 
buds sink to the bot- 
tom of the pond, to 
rise to the surface with the advent of warm weather. The plant is sub- 
tropical and will not survive very cold weather. Of the floating plants it 
is one of the largest fancied by aquariist, and the fine white blossoms are 
attractive and of pretty form. In the greenhouse the plant survives for 
years. May be had of dealers. A similar plant, the American Frog-bit, 
Limnobium spongia, having dark-green heartshaped leaves, purplish on the 
under side, is a desirable greenhouse plant, but also will not thrive in the 
household aquarium. 

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FIG. 138. Frog-bit, een morsus-ran@. Reduced one-third. 
WATER HYACINTH 
The Water hyacinth, Eichhornia, is steadily growing in favor with the 
breeder of the goldfish, as it one of the best spawning plants, in addition 
to its curious and handsome appearance. The thick floating leaf stalks 
and dark green, burnished leaves, the long trailing roots, and the beautiful 
flowers, give it a most ornate appearance. It propagates by seeds and 
buds which again develop young plants before separating from the parent 
plant, so that a single Water hyacinth may be developed into many hun- 
dreds in a single summer. It is native to a warm climate and difficult to 
keep over the winter in a cold one, even in the greenhouse. As a shade 
plant, in the open-air, it is to be recommended, and the easy facility for 
the removal of goldfish spawn to hatching dishes, which it affords, is a 
great advantage in its use as a spawning plant. In Florida it has become a 
plague, as it propagates in such numbers that it chokes the channels 
zit 
