76 HARDY AQUATICS. 



being from Carolina, requires more care than the preceding. Its root-stock must be kept in dry soil 

 in winter, and out of the reach of frost. In spring it should be planted in a box of muddy soil, 

 and placed in a close frame, being kept in a moist condition until the leaves appear. In the 

 beginning of June, the box containing the plant may be placed in two or three feet of water, where 

 it will receive the fullest exposure to the sun ; the beautiful large yellow blossoms are produced in 

 August, and amply reward the cultivator for his trouble. The Indian N. speciosum is more 

 handsome, but is too tender for the open air, unless it could be grown in a small tank, under a close 

 frame. Its flowers are deliciously fragrant, and measure from six to eight inches across. 



Aponogeton distachyon. (Two-spiked Aponogeton.) — This and the following plant are floating 

 aquatics, in the strictest sense of the word, the roots being sent down from the horizontal stems. It 

 is a native of the Cape, but will bear a mild winter, and a single root may easily be preserved from 

 frost in a vessel of water. The flowers are white, fragrant, and produced in June or July. 



Hydrocharis Morsus Ranm. (Common Frog-bit.)— A curious and interesting plant, common 

 in some parts of England, flowering in July. Blossoms large, white, produced from a transparent 

 spathe. 



Zimnocharis Humboldt ii. — A beautiful plant from Brazil, allied to the preceding, rather tender, 

 but capable of resisting ordinary winters ; flowers yellow, shaded at base with orange, on long foot- 

 stalks. The leaf of this plant is remarkable for having a large opening at its apex, from which 

 moisture constantly distils. 



Pontederia cordata. — A very handsome aquatic from Virginia, with heart-shaped leaves, borne on 

 sheathing petioles ; flowers of a fine blue, in close spikes produced in May. The roots must be 

 planted at least eighteen inches deep, as they suffer from frost ; it will, however, grow in shallow 

 water. P. ccerulea is a fine plant, but much less common. 



Jussieua grandiflora. — Another American plant of interest, but rather tender, and must be 

 planted not less than one-and-a-half feet deep. Flowers yellow, in August. It belongs to the 

 Evening Primrose tribe. 



Villarsia nymphceoides. ("Water-lily-like Villarsia.) — A beautiful indigenous plant of the Gentian 

 tribe, with large yellow flowers often fringed at the edge. Perfectly hardy and easily cultivated- 

 Many of the canals in Holland are full of this plant. 



Menyanthes trifoliata. (Bog-Bean or Water-trefoil.) — Also a native plant, and belongs to the 

 same natural family as Villarsia, but has white flowers, tinged externally with red, and fringed 

 with white filaments. Shallow water, or it may be planted quite at the edge of the pond. 



Stratiotes abides, (Water Soldier.) — A common native plant, but useful from its numerous tufts of 

 sword-like leaves. Flowers white, produced from a spathe, in July. 



Thalia dealbata. (White-leaved Thalia.) — A Canna-like plant with beautiful blue flowers ; being 

 from Carolina, the roots must be planted out of reach of frost. Readily raised from seeds on a hot 

 bed, which are generally kept by seedmen. 



Calla palustris. (Marsh Calla.) — Also from America, and a very interesting plants with the flowers 

 enclosed in a spathe, like those of the next plant. It should be planted in twelve or eighteen inches 

 of water. 



Richardia JEthiopica. (Arum Plant.) — Commonly known as the Calla A^thiopica ; it succeeds 

 admirably as an aquatic, but must be planted out of reach of frost. To these may be added the 

 Water Plantain {Alisma Plantago), the Flowering Bush {Butomus umbellatm), both very ornamental 

 and every where attainable ; the common Arrow-head (Sagitlaria sagittifolia) j the beautiful Water 

 violet (Hottonia palustris), and the equally common Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) ; all of which 

 are very desirable, and suitable for the margin or edge of the pond. Several of these, however, 

 ought perhaps to have been placed in the next group, as they rise above the surface. 



