THE FLOWEKING- 

 EUSH. 



Bittomits umbellatus. Nat. Ord., 

 Butomacece. 



HE beautiful plant figured in 

 the present plate is so unlike any 

 other, that there can be no diffi- 

 culty in its identification when 

 seen. It grows freely over the 

 whole of England and Ireland, 

 \ but is only found in some few 

 situations in Scotland, and those 

 only where it has been intro- 

 duced by the hand of man. The 

 flowering-rush is ordinarily found 

 either in ponds or canals ; it appears 

 to thrive best in still water, or where 

 the current is very slight, as in the 

 case of lock-guarded streams, and it 

 is generally found near the banks, as it 

 does not do well in deep water; though 

 in most cases, as we know from experience, 

 he who will gather its beautiful blossoms 

 must not mind a little wading for them. As the flower 

 is a perennial, it will, if once introduced into a lake or 

 other suitable piece of water, continue to throw up 

 its bunches of pink flowers year after year without any 



