76 FEESH-WATEB AQUAEIA. 



leaves. The flowers, whioli grow on leafless stalks, are pale 

 blue, with yeUow centres. The buds before they expand are 

 pink, and are coiled up in such a way at the top of the flower- 

 stalk as to give to this plant and its relations the name of 

 Scorpion Grass. The Myosotis should be set in a pot, and 

 placed among the rockwork of an aquarium. This weed is also 

 called the Creeping Water Scorpion Grrass, and is said to be 

 the true Forget-me-not, though this romantic title has been 

 often claimed for other plants. 



The Brooklime {Veronica Beccahunga) (Fig. 65) is very hardy, 

 and grows rapidly in an aquarium. Its bright green leaves 

 are oval and roundly notched on their margins. They grow 

 opposite one another, in twos, on a creeping stem, which sends 

 out small roots. The flowers blossom from May to September, 

 and are generally of a deep blue colour ; but occasionally they 

 are flesh-coloured. The Brooklime is a great favourite with 

 keepers of aquaria, for it is very pretty, common, and useful. 

 A small portion of the plant, containing a short piece of the 

 stem, will begin to grow almost directly it is planted in the 

 sand and gravel at the bottom of the tank. This weed is often 

 found growing in the company of watercress, with which it 

 is sometimes eaten, though the flavour is rather pungent. 



The Water-mint {Mentha syhestris) is one of the most orna- 

 mental of water-plants. It is fairly common, and is found 

 growing either in or on the edges of shallow streams, often in 

 dense masses. The leaves are egg-shaped and serrated. The 

 flowers, which are a pale lilac, grow on the upper part of a 

 stem in thick whorls, the top flower of all forming a kind of 

 head. The Water-mint will grow well in an aquarium, and 

 may be planted in a pot, or in rather deep sand and gravel 

 at the bottom of the tank. It flowers from July to September, 

 and emits rather a strong scent, which is pleasing or unpleasing 

 according to individual tastes. 



The Common Homwoi-t {Ceratophyllum demersum) (Fig. 56) 

 grows in slow-running streams and ditches. It is not by 

 any means a rare plant; indeed, in some counties it is very 

 common. There is no difficulty in recognising this weed, its 

 appearance is so different from any other. It has narrow 



