
AQUATIC PLANTS OF FRESHWATER 

differed in by authorities. Fishes 
are not necessary to its growth, but 


a few snails or tadpoles are required 
to cabonate the water and to keep 
down the alge and scum. 


Ouvirandra bernieriana,( Decne.) 
or Bernier’s Madagascar Lace 

Plant, is a sub-species having 
leaves with smaller open spaces 
and four-parted pinkish spikes. 
The plant is usually smaller than 
the foregoing. Both these species 

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SSeS S= a 



are grown in the Botanical Gardens FIG. 139. Madagascar Lace Plant, Ouvirandra finestralis. 
at Washington and at the University of Pennsylvania. May be had of 
dealers in aquatic plants. 
The water in which these plants are grown should be clean and clear 
and should be kept at about 65° to 75°F. in a greenhouse. Despite the 
delicate and lacelike appearance of the plant, the leaves are tough and will 
stand rough handling. 
POND PLANTS 
The beauty of lakes, ponds and basins largely depends upon a tasteful 
and picturesque arrangement of aquatic and semi-aquatic plants both in 
the water and along the borders. A selection of different species of the 
Nymphee or Water Lilies, the Nelumbiz or Lotuses, the Limnachari or 
Water Poppies, and occasional groups of Trapacez or Water-nuts, Mar- 
silea or Water Clover, Aponogetone or Floating Cape Pond Weeds, 
Limnantheme or Floating Heart, and of Eichhorni or Water Hyacinths 
will beautify the surface; and clusters of Cabomba, Myriophyllum, Pro- 
serpinaca and Ludwigia the lower depths, except in the flowering season; 
but care must be taken that these latter will not spread too greatly and 
become a nuisance. Among all these there are hardy species which will 
thrive perennially when introduced, especially if the ponds and lakes are 
fed from natural springs that will not freeze solid in the winter. 
For the margins and borders a natural grouping of any of the native 
hardy and readily obtainable Naiads, the semi-aquatic Sagittarias or 
Arrowheads, the Water Lobelias, the Acorus or Sweet Flags or 
Calamus, the Pontederia or Pickerel weeds, the Cypera and Papyruses 
or Umbrella Plants, the Juncacee and Cyperacez or Rushes and Sedges, 
the Isoetes or Quillworts, the Orontium or Golden Club, the Peltandra 
or Arrow arums, and the Rannunculi, which include the Water Crowfoots 
213 
