THE EVERGLADES 125 



is everywhere abundant and the handsome water 

 hyacinth, such a nuisance in the fresh waters 

 farther north, is gaining entrance by the canals. 

 Crinum americanum, a bulbous plant, has lovely, 

 pure white, fragrant blooms and two species of 

 Hymenocallis or spider lilies display their offerings 

 in large blossoms, the long white segments of which 

 suggest the ribs of an umbrella, the whole being 

 surmounted by a lovely crown. There is a hand- 

 some blue Nama and two charming pond lilies, 

 one a Nymphaea with yellow and the other a 

 Castalia with white flowers. The latter is one of 

 the common pond lilies of the north. The leaves 

 of the yellow lily are strong and erect and the plant 

 usually bears the name of "bonnets." 



Great masses of a cattail (Typha angustifolia) 

 are often met and occasionally the arrowheads 

 (Sagittaria), with lance-shaped leaves. In the 

 canals the curious water lettuce (Pistia stratioides) 

 floats down from the lakes, where there is a great 

 variety of interesting aquatic vegetation. The 

 boneset, Thalia, Nama, maiden cane, and some 

 others are from the north while the saw grass, 

 Crinum, gama grass, spider lilies, the foxtail, 

 water hemp, giant bullrush and water lettuce are 



