Water-lilies and Other Aquatic Plants 159 



profusely, but it grows prodigiously, and will soon fill a pond. The water- 

 snowflake, Limnanthemiun Indiciim, is another very attractive plant, with 

 pure white flowers covered with hirsute glands, giving it the appearance 

 of a flake of snow. Like all Hmnanthemums, or "floating hearts," the flowers 

 are produced on the petioles near the leaf; after several flowers are produced, 

 a runner with another leaf and bunch of flowers follows, and so on, and very 



Under side of a Victoria leaf, showing the beautiful venation and the spaces where air is held 



soon a large surface is covered. These and many other plants are interesting, 

 but because of their wild and rambling habits I prefer to keep them out of 

 the pond where choice nympha^as are grown. 



A very useful and desirable plant to grow, and one which can be had 

 in flower in winter in a small space, is the cape pond-weed, Aponogeton 

 distachyiim. It is perfectly hardy, and one of the first to put in an appearance 

 in spring, but during hot summer weather it is liable to rest. The flowers 

 are white, borne on a forked spike, and very sweet-scented. 



I may also mention here another tender aquatic plant that is travelling 

 northward and proving itself hardy, and where so it is liable to become 

 a pest, viz., the parrot's feather, Myriophyllum proserpinacoides. When 

 grown in a large tub on a pedestal or a vase, where its branches can droop 

 over the edges, it is a handsome plant; but on the margin of a pond, stream, 



