AQUATIC PLANTS OF FRESHWATER 



and waterways. May be had of dealers and florists generally. In warmer 

 climates great care must be exercised that it may not get into the streams. 

 Two species are generally to be had in the Eastern and Middle states, E. 

 azuria, bearing lavender-blue flowers, and E. crassipes, with lilac-rose 

 flowers. 



WATER LETTUCE 



This curious floating plant, Pistia stratiotes (Linn.), consists of a 

 cluster of large, fine, yellowish-green velvety leaves, which in general form 

 resembles garden lettuce, and is about the size of a teacup. It is very 

 handsome In the moist hot atmosphere of the greenhouse, but will not 

 thrive in the household aquarium or in the open air; as it is a shade plant 

 and can not endure direct sunlight. May be had of dealers in aquatic 

 plants. 



ORNAMENTAL AQUARIUM PLANTS 



A number of beautiful plants, rooted on the bottom but having 

 floating leaves and emersed flowers may be introduced into the aquarium, 

 but in the household there are but few that will grow satisfactorily. The 

 best of these are the so-called Water Poppy, Limnocharis humboldtii, a 

 hardy, handsome plant with small oval floating leaves and yellow poppy- 

 like flowers; the Water Clover, Marsilea natavs, which develops clover- 

 like floating leaves and a delicate white flower; and the Water Snowflake 

 Limnanthemus indicum, having small lilylike leaves and a dainty fringed 

 pure white flower, from which it derives its popular name. 



Some of the dwarf lilies, Nympheie, may also be grown under favorable 

 conditions, but as they are strong feeders and require abundant rich soil, 

 they are better adapted for large receptacles than the usual smaller 

 freshwater aquaria. 



All the above ornamental plants are indifferent generators of oxygen 

 and should be introduced only for their ornamental appearance. 



OuviRANDRA. This unique plant is known botanically by its Mad- 

 agascar name, meaning Water-yam, and popularly as the Lattice-leaf or 

 Lace-plant. The skeletonized, dark olive-green leaves spread just below 

 the surface of the water from a single stalk or root stock and consist of a 

 mere tracery of many nerves and crossveins, 6 to 1 8 inches long and 2 to 

 4 inches broad. 



Ouvirandra finestralis, (Poir.) or Madagascar Lace Plant, Fig. 139, is 

 the finest form, having broad recumbent latticed leaves and 1 white petal- 

 like bodies borne upon spikes about 2 inches long. The Lace Plant is 

 grown in tubs or jars of freshwater, the frequent changing of which is 



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