CENANTHE rLUVIATILIS. 155 
As yet the Tagaragunclie is not cultivated in the Canaries for the 
sake of its starch, and figures in gardens as a weed merely. But if 
such profitable results could be obtained from growing it in the Channel 
Islands, it might be worth trying in its native country. The only 
Aroidea now cultivated on a large scale is Colocasia ^lyviphe^foUa ^Wie 
Iname of the natives, the corms of which are boiled in water, and 
generally eaten with honey. Aruarum snbexserlum^ Webb et "Berth., is 
not cultivated, but grows Avild near the limit of the forest region, and 
is used for fattening pigs. 
(EN ANT HE FLUFIATILIS. 
By C. C. Babington, M.A., F.E.S. 
It is manifest, from the recent remark of an excellent botanist, that 
the idea is still prevalent that those plants which usually inhabit swiftly 
flowing streams, derive their drawn-out form from the action of the 
water. I long since fully convinced myself, and published the fact, that 
the Batrachian Eanunculi do not derive their form from that cause. It 
is now stated by implication that CEnantJiefuviatilis does not grow natu- 
rally in stagnant water; but in the neighbourhood of Cambridge it may 
often be found in such places. Indeed, it is rarely seen in flower, and 
very rarely (if ever) produces seed, except in the still water. 
' I cannot as positively say that I have seen (E. Fhellandrinm in run- 
ning water, and it may be doubted if it could stand up against the 
action of a stream of much rapidity. Those who have noticed the loose 
manner in which it stands upon, rather than in the mud, will not ex- 
pect it to resist a flow of water. 
But whatever may be thought on this subject, it seems to me scarcely 
possible that any botanist who has seen the submersed leaves of the 
two plants can believe in their specific identity. 
Another eminent botanist tells us, that the differences observed in 
the tubers of the roots, and the radical leaves of (E. pimpinelloides, 
(E. LacJienalii, and (E. silaifolia, "have been shown to depend only on 
soil and situation." It is much to be wished that he bad informed us 
when and where it has been shown that such is the case. For however 
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