162 THE BOG. 



a tendency to produce capillary leaves; this ten- 

 dency being, in the former case, of the greatest 

 benefit to the plant, in the latter not prejudicial. 

 Possibly, indeed, the large exposure of surface to 

 the water, consequent on the repeated subdivision 

 of the leaves, may be necessary to the perfection 

 of the plant, whether it grow in rivers or in ponds. 

 If this be the case, we have an additional reason for 

 admiring the wisdom " which serves to further, 

 too, some other use.'* 



Other aquatic plants, besides that just described, 

 are remarkable for their peculiar adaptation to the 

 element in which they grow. " The Broad-leaved 

 Pond-weed"* is one of them. You have, pro- 



POND-WEED. 



bably, observed its large elliptical leaves floating 

 on the surface of the water, and lying so flat that 

 they scarcely seem attached to any stem. The 

 upper side of the leaf appears to be covered with 

 some substance which repels water, for let it rain 

 as hard as it will, or let the leaf be sunk, and held 



* Potamogeton natans. 



