WATEE-PLANTS. 



73 



lovely and rare water-plant. It is found in still waters in the 

 neighbourhood of the Thames, and in some slow Yorkshire 

 riyers. Its nearly round, though almost heart-shaped leaves, 

 float at the end of long stalks on the surface of the water. The 

 stem is long and branched. The five-petalled flowers are rather 

 large, yellow, and fringed. It is very hardy, and is easily 



Fig. 53. Lily-like Villarsia (Villarsia nymph.eoides). 



cultivated in the aquarium, but it should be planted in a pot 

 containing good loam mixed with silver sand. The Villarsia 

 can be propagated either by seed or by division of the root, and 

 is a rapid grower. Though this plant is so rare, it can generally 

 be bought from some London florists for quite a reasonable 

 sum, and I think the aquarium-keeper will never regret the 

 purchase. 



