BY THE ETTEK AND THE STEEAMLET. 95 



amidst its coarse foliage. Its root is mucilaginous. 

 It is used for coughs when candied. The young 

 foliage is not bad eating when cooked, and it forms 

 good fodder for cattle. 



As we gain the river-banks we shall see the grey 

 leaves of the Silverweed glistening as if it was on the 

 dusty road-side, and the star-like foliage of the Vernal 

 Starwort (Callitriche verna) floating in the stream. 

 There is little to distinguish it except its stalked oval 

 leaves. The green flowers are insignificant. The 

 new aquatic weed, known as the Water-Thyme 

 (AnacTiaris alsinastrum), or Canada Weed, is only too 

 common. The history of this plant is well known, 

 but how it reached this country is a mystery. It was 

 first seen, in the Dunse Loch, in 1842 ; next in the 

 Grand Junction Canal, near Market Harborough ; 

 then in the Trent, and in the Cam; and now it is 

 found in nearly every river and stream. It has been 

 largely propagated by the ignorance of boatmen of its 

 habits, for each of its three-leaved whorls has the 

 power of growing, even when floating down a stream, 

 and the toothed foliage enables it to catch any stray 

 filament of confervas or weed, and anchor itself, to 

 begin a new life. 



