AQUATIC PLANTS OF FRESHWATER 



and a leaf of S. brasiliensis. 

 Reduced one-third. 



SALVINIA 



This is the most beautiful of the smaller floating aquatic plants. Two 

 species, Salvinia nutans, native to the Southern and Southwestern States, 

 and the larger tropical S. brasiliensis, are to be obtained of florists. Fig. 136. 



The leaves of the native species are heartshaped, 

 and of a bright, beautiful green color, and covered 

 with hairlike bristles, the under side of the leaf 

 being a purplish-red. The larger, more circular 

 leaves of the exotic species are pale golden yellow 

 with pea-green tints and a bright-green border; 

 and are more rounded with a depressed centre 

 which gives the leaf a heartshaped appearance. The 

 leaves grow in rows along a fine threadlike stem, 

 ^,^ , „ , . . „ , . . and in the moist atmosphere of the greenhouse 



FIG. 136. Salvinia, Sal-vinta natans, _ _ '^ _ _ ° _ 



develop and increase with increditable rapidity, but 

 in the household aquarium soon diminish in size 

 and rarely survive the winter. Goldfishes eat the roots, which also tends to 

 check the growth. It is the handsomest of the floating aquarium plants 

 but does not serve as an oxygenator. Two new species have recently be- 

 come known, S. auriculata from South America, and S. elegans from Mexico. 



TRIANEA 



This sub-tropical floating water plant, Trianea 

 bogotensis. Fig. 137, with its heartshaped, slightly 

 roughened and waxlike green leaves, is an attractive 

 floating plant, which develops with remarkable 

 rapidity in the moist atmosphere of the greenhouse, 

 but dwindles in size of leaf and loses vigor in the 

 household aquarium. The pendant roots harbor 

 infusoria and entomostraca and are eaten by the 

 fishes. It makes a fine appearance in the aquarium, 

 but will not serve as an oxygenator. The leaves 

 develop in the centre of the clusters and the blossom 

 is small and yellow with a white centre. 



As a shade plant in out-of-doors tanks, it is to 

 be recommended and grows well during the warm 

 summer months, if not exposed to too strong sun- 

 light. May be had of florists. 



FROG-BIT 



This floating plant, Hydrocharis morsus-rana, 



/T-rv-i-i. Of"* * 1 FIG. 137. Trianea, Trianea 



(Hort.) l<ig. 138, a lluropean species, never takes hogotmsh. Reduced one-third. 



