PLANTS GROWING IN WATER. 41 



FLOATING=HEART. {Plate XII.) 

 Limndntheniiiui laai)ibsum. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Buckbeati. 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. Staviciis: five. Pistil: one. 

 Frtnt : 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 w^ith 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 form of reproduction similar to that of 



the strawberry 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. AVith the return of spring they are thus 



ready to send above vigourous, renewed stock. 



AMERICAN BROOKLIME. 



Verdnica Americana. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Figzvort. Blue. Scetitless. Mostly north and west. April-Septeviber. 



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 w^atery 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. 



