182 THE ELORAL WOULD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



ON THE CULTUEE OF AQUATIC PLANTS. 



[HE aquatic plants of the Eastern hemisphere, from their 

 elegance and beauty, rank as objects of no mean interest 

 in the catalogue of vegetable forms. Some of them are 

 allied by their similarity of structure to the Alga?, as 

 Zostera and Aponogeton, in the natural order Fluviales, 

 which may be mistaken for subjects in that inferior class of vegetable 

 organization ; while, on the other hand, the noble tribe of Nymphaa 

 stands unrivalled for the beauty of the several species of which it is 

 composed. The beautiful blue of Byblis linifolia, the rich tinted 

 brown of Vallisneria spiralis, the delicate pink of Nelumbium spe- 

 ciosum, and the highly fragrant perfume of Aponogeton distachyon, 

 have each and all a deep and peculiar interest among other objects 

 which occupy the wide domain of Nature. 



The different species of aquatic plants belong to no particular 

 order of the vegetable system, but are dispersed through the prin- 

 cipal divisions of the natural arrangement. They are indigenous to 

 most parts of the known world ; but the British species form very 

 conspicuous and interesting plants to deck the hardy aquarium. 



Many of the species which are most difficult of culture are natives 

 of the tropics, and require a congenial atmosphere (varying from 

 55° to 70^ artificial heat, and up to 90° sohir heat) to disclose their 

 flowers. As they require intense light, they should be placed near to 

 the glass. Where cisterns are used, a waste pipe is requisite to take 

 off the water when becoming injurious to growth. 



Stove and Exotic Species. 



Limnociiaris Humboldtu belongs to the natural order Comme- 

 line;e; its name is derived from limne, mud, charts, grace. It thrives 

 in retentive loamy soil, and produces an abundance of its bright 

 yellow three-petalled flowers, if planted in a cistern or tank where a 

 good heat is maintained. Introduced from Buenos Ayres in 1831. 



Nelumbium speciosum, from ml umbos, its name in Ceylon, belongs 

 to the natural order Nymphieaceas. The delicate colour of its bright 

 pink flowers make it a desirable object. It requires to be kept dry 

 after the blooming season, and again excited about the beginning of 

 February. The fruit of N. speciosum is supposed to be the Egyp- 

 tian bean of Pythagoras. It grows in great luxuriance in the ditches, 

 in all the hotter countries of the East'; and requires intense heat to 

 expand its flowers. 



Byblis linifolia, named from Byblis, daughter of Miletus, ranks 

 in the natural order Droseracese. It is a pretty though minute 

 plant, with blossoms of a beautiful blue, which are produced freely 

 when planted in a good loamy soil ; but it succeeds best when 

 placed in a shallow cistern in the stove. Native of New Holland, 

 introduced in 1800. 



Desmanthus natans, a native of China, is a beautiful and inte- 

 resting aquatic, producing its singular white flowers in abundance, if 



