PLANTS FOR. 27 



the neighbourhood of London. It is a beautiful 

 plant, and worthy the attention of those who 

 cultivate water-plants. 



BUCKBEAN (Menyanthes trifoliata) is another plant 

 belonging to the Gentian family that may be cul- 

 tivated in the Aquavivarium. Whilst it is a 

 useful medicine, on account of its bitter qualities, 

 it has beautiful flowers, covered with soft hairs 

 and large three-lobed leaves. It grows in marshes 

 and by the side of streams rather than in them. 



The WATER VIOLET (Hottonia, palustris), Fig. 13, 

 belongs to the Primrose family (Primulacece). It 

 has purple and yellow whorled flowers, which 

 open above the water, whilst the comb- shaped 

 leaves, attached to a straight stem, are always 

 below the water. It has a long root, and will not 

 grow well without a considerable depth of soil. 



WATER SPEEDWELL ( Veronica Anagallis) and BROOK- 

 LIME ( Veronica Beccabunga), Fig. 4, belong to the 

 Figwort family (Scrophulariacece), and live in 

 water. They are both characterized by having 

 blue flowers. The Water Speedwell has pale blue 

 flowers and an erect stem ; the Brooklime has 

 a procumbent stem, and bright blue flowers. 

 These plants, when in flower, make a pretty 

 addition to the Aquavivarium. 



Most of the plants we have mentioned need to 

 be rooted to the soil in order to grow well j we 

 have now to speak of one which, although it has 

 delicate roots, thrives very well whilst floating in 

 the water. This is 



THE WATER STARWORT (Callitriche verna), and is 

 the only genus of the family of Water Starworts 

 (Callitrichacece) in Great Britain. This pretty 

 plant, which will be found very useful in the 

 Aquavivarium, is very common in stagnant and 

 slowly-running water, all over the country. It 



