THE AQUARIUM AND WATER PLANTS. 283 



gem of a plant ; the leaves are curious, and the flowers 

 rise on a stem whorled at the joints, and are at once 

 interesting and ornamental. 



All the Bladderworts ( Utricularia) are pretty and com- 

 mon plants. U. inflata and vulgaris are the most common. 



But we are sensible of the difficulty of giving any thing 

 like a complete list of the many natives of our ponds 

 and streams adapted to the aquarium. These we have 

 mentioned are, with the exception of the exotics, to be 

 found every where, but there are many others equally 

 common, and no less beautiful. 



Our advice to the amateur is, go to the nearest pond 

 or stream, transplant what seems to you suitable, and 

 watch their growth and development. You will find 

 enough to admire in what are called our commonest 

 weeds, for the many species of water plants have been 

 sadly neglected, and their beauty is not appreciated. 



Some bloom above, some below the water ; some pro- 

 duce foliage floating on the surface, others _. have it 

 suspended in the water. New plants will give you 

 new beauties, and you will the more reverence the 

 power of the Creator, by the study of these, his almost 

 unknown works. 



