3^ 



THE ARUM FAMILY. 



WATER LETTUCE. 



TROPICAL DUCKWEED. {Plate XII) 



Pistia spathulata. 



FAMILY 

 A nun. 



COLOUR 



Spa the : zvliite. 



Flowers: monoecious; very small; few. 



ODOUR 



SceiitUss. 



RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Florida ami it'cst'ivard, August. 



Spadix: axillary at the base of the 

 leaves and enwrapped by a white, tubular spathe, which is spreading and pointed 

 at the apex and united at the base; the outer side covered with downy hairs. 

 Leaves : one to five inches long, growing in a circle on the water; obovate, broadly 

 rounded at the aj^ex and contracted at the base; entire; pale green; parallel- 

 veined; soft and covered with a powdery down, Koots: long; feathery; floating. 



This little plant of tender green floats freely in the rivers and ponds of 

 many tropical regions, and appears like a young, unsophisticated head of 

 lettuce. And particularly meek it looks when on the St. John's river it is 

 being knocked about by the all powerful \vater-h3^acinth. During the sum- 

 mer and autumn it remains fresh and its growth is especially luxurious 

 in such shallow water that its fibrous roots can touch the soil below and 

 thus draw on an added amount of nourishment. In suitable climates it is 

 planted in pools and basins that are reserved 

 for public use, where it is of service in shading 

 the water from the buinmg rays of the sun and 

 alluiing unto itself insects that otherwise would 

 diown themselves in the water and become ob- 

 jectionable. 



'4'\h0^ 



The Skunk Cabbage. 



