234 The Wild Garden. 



water-side, nothing equals the great Water-dock 

 (Rumex Hydrolapathum), which is rather generally- 

 dispersed over the British isles, and has leaves quite 

 sub-tropical in aspect and size, becoming of a lurid 

 red in the autumn. It forms a grand mass of 

 foliage on rich muddy banks. The Typhas must 

 not be omitted, but they should not be allowed to 

 run everywhere. The narrow-leaved one is more 

 graceful than the common one. Carex pendula is 

 very fine for the margins of water, its elegant 

 drooping spikes being quite distinct in their way. 

 It is rather common in England, more so than 

 Carex Pseudo-cyperus, which grows well in a foot 

 or two of water, or on the margin of a muddy pond. 

 Carex paniculata forms a strong and thick stem, 

 sometimes three or four feet high, somewhat like a 

 ti-ee-fern, and with luxuriant masses of falling 

 leaves, and on that account is transferred to moist 

 places in gardens and cultivated by some persons, 

 though generally the larger specimens are difficult 

 to remove and soon perish. Scirpus lacustris (the 

 " Bulrush") is too distinct a plant to be omitted, as 

 its stems, sometimes attaining a height of more 

 than seven and even eight feet, look very imposing ; 

 and Cyperus longus is also a desirable thing, re- 

 minding one of the aspect of the Papyrus when in 



