PLANTS GROWING IN WATER. 41 



FLOATING-HEART. (Plate XII.) 

 Limndnthemum lacunbsum. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Buckbean. Yellow. Scentless. Maine to Florida. July, August. 



Flowers: growing in an umbel near the top of the stalk from under the 

 leaves. Calyx: five-parted. Corolla: wheel-shaped, the border in divisions 

 of five, fringed and incurved at the edges. Stamens: five. Pistil: one. 

 Fruit: a capsule with numerous seeds. Leaves: growing on slender, long, 

 twining petioles ; ovate-orbicular ; purplish beneath. 



The floating-heart has never inspired the poets with any of 

 the ardour that they have felt for members of the gentian 

 family to which it is related ; and yet it would seem as though 

 its name alone should awaken some drowsy muse. It is true 

 that the flower is far from being such a raving beauty as the 

 fringed gentian ; but it is very interesting. Its parts alternate 

 in a systematic way that shows it understands good government. 

 The petals alternate with the sepals and the stamens with the 

 petals, while alternating with the stamens are five glands. 

 These glands, it is supposed, were originally another set of 

 stamens that have been absorbed at an early stage by the petals. 

 The root-like tubers that start out near the flowers at the end 

 of the petiole, show a similar form of reproduction as the 

 strawberry does with its leafy shoots at the end of runners. 

 At the approach of cold weather they detach themselves from 

 the main plant and sink to the bottom of the pond, where they 

 root in the mud. With the return of the spring they are thus 

 ready to send above vigourous, renewed stock. 



AMERICAN BROOKLIME. 



Veronica Americana. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Fig-wort. Blue. Scentless. Mostly north and west. April-September. 



Flowers: growing loosely in axillary, slender racemes. Corolla: wheel- 

 shaped, of four lobes. Calyx: four-parted. Stamens: two. Pistil: one. 

 Leaves : on petioles ; opposite ; oblong or lanceolate ; serrated. Stem : smooth; 

 slightly curving and branched. 



It is mostly in brooks and watery ditches that we find this 

 dear little plant. Children often mistake it for the wild forget- 

 me-not and are invariably disappointed when they learn that it 

 bears no more tender name than American brooklime. 



