114 WALL AND WATER GARDENS 



Frog-bit is another pretty floating plant, with heart- 

 shaped leaves and habit of growth not unlike Villarsia. 



The Water Soldier {Stratiotes) is a curious thing 

 and handsome in its way. The whole plant is not 

 unlike the bunch of spiny-edged foliage in the top 

 of a Pine Apple, but of a dark bottle-green colour 

 and a foot long. It grows at the bottom, rising only 

 to flower and then sinks again. It is more a curiosity 

 than a militant water-garden ornament, but it certainly 

 gives interest to a watery region to know that this 

 strange thing is there and that with luck one may be 

 on the spot to see it flower. 



The Butter-bur {Petasifes), with its large leaves a 

 foot or more across, makes a great effect as a foliage 

 plant on the pond edge, or where a space of very 

 shallow slope comes down to the water. 



The Buckbean {Menyanthes) is one of the prettiest 

 of English flowers. Its home is the muddy edge of 

 river or pond or very wet bog ; it does not need run- 

 ning water. The leaves are rather like three leaves 

 of Broad Bean, joined into a large trefoil ; they stand 

 up out of the water. The flowers, which also stand 

 well up, are a spike of pretty pink bloom ; the whole 

 blossom is delicately veined by a fringing of white hairs. 

 It is a plant of the Gentian tribe, as is also the Villarsia. 



The Summer Snowflake {Leucojum cestivuvi) is beauti- 

 ful beside the pond or pool ; in strong alluvial soil 

 growing to a surprising size. It is one of the best of 

 plants for growing in quantity in tufts like Daffodils ; 

 indeed in meadow land by stream or pond the two 

 plants would meet and amalgamate happily, the 



