34 PLANTS GROWING IN WATER. 



The plant is a native of Brazil, and it is thought that it was in 

 about 1890 that it was introduced into Florida. It had been for- 

 merly cultivated in northern greenhouses, as it had the potent 

 charm of beauty. So congenial to its tastes did it find the sunny 

 shores of the St. Johns River and the yellowish water that 

 abounds in humid acid and organic matter that it soon laid aside 

 all the customs of a guest, and determined upon dabbling in the 

 political economy and affairs of the country. In streams where 

 sulphur or other distasteful acids are prevalent it is not able to 

 survive. 



In 1896 the War Department at Washington was asked to ex- 

 ert its influence with this unruly plant, which was becoming a 

 serious menace to navigation. It has also destroyed bridges, 

 interfered with the timber industry, and affected the health of 

 the region by upholding objectionable organic matter. Great 

 floating masses of the water-hyacinth are moored to the shore 

 by those that have rooted in the shallow water. But at times 

 the wind tears them loose and then large blocks of it go float- 

 ing about with the current. At one time a strong wind drove 

 it northward until it closed the river for twenty-five miles. 



The plant reproduces itself by stolens or leafy shoots and in 

 such numbers that its increase is most alarming. The problem 

 of controlling the water-hyacinth is very interesting. Mechani- 

 cal means entail such great and continuous expense that it is 

 thought a natural enemy to breed disease amongst it will have 

 to be introduced. 



COMMON BLADDERWORT. (Plate VIIL) 

 Utricularia vulgaris. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Bladder-wort, Yellow. , Scentless. General. All summer. 



Flowers: several growing on each scape. Calyx: labiate or two-lipped 

 Corolla: labiate, the spur shorter than the lower lip. Stamens: two, with 

 anthers that meet in the throat. Pistil : one; stigma two-lipped. Leaves: un- 

 der water, many-parted, bearing rather large bladders. Stem : immersed. 



This aquatic herb, which we find in still, slow water, is hardly 

 one to inspire us with affection. It belongs to the strange 



