OR, THE HOME-CULTURE OF FRESH-WATER PLANTS. 



name. The large white flowers, finely blotched 

 with pink in well-grown specimens, appear in July, 

 and at that season would form a grand attraction to 

 the Aquarium (see Plate VIII., No. 3). The plants 

 of Arrowhead might be sought in their native 

 brooks and ditches just before the flowering season, 

 and, as they bear removal well, they need only be 

 allowed, like many other plants, to occupy the Aqua- 

 rium during the period of their inflorescence, though 

 it is always worthy of culture for the beauty of its 

 leaves alone. The rhizoma, or under-ground stem, 

 of the Sagittaria is very fleshy, and is used for food 

 in several European countries. 



The amphibious Persicaria, with its pyramidal 

 spikes of pink-tipped blossoms, forms a very pretty 

 object for artificial culture (see Plate VII.) ; as 

 does also the Peatherfoil or Water Violet. The 

 last is indeed an exceedingly desirable Aquarium 

 plant, its feathery leaves having a very graceful 

 appearance beneath the surface, spreading their 

 elegant forms about the lower portions of the tank 

 like plumes of green feathers, while the flowers, 

 growing in a series of whorls, appear above the 

 water, and have a very pretty effect, being of a 

 delicate pinkish purple, becoming yellow towards 

 the centre. This plant has received its botanical 



