NAJADACE^-PONDWEED FAMILY 



CAPE PONDWEED. WATER-HAWTHORN 



Aponogkon distdchyum. Potamogiton distdchyum. 

 Aponogeton, neighbor to water; in allusion to its habitat. 



A hardy, aquatic plant with floating leaves; cultivated in water- 

 gardens. Native to the Cape of Good Hope. 



Roots. — Tuberous. 



Leaves. — Floating, oblong or lance-shaped, round-based, long- 

 petioled. 



Flowers. — Fragrant; white in effect; borne in fleshy, forked spikes, 

 which consist of a double row of alternate, thick, white, wax-like bracts 

 on a thick white axis. At first the entire inflorescence is enclosed in a 

 tapering spathe which is forced off as the bracts develop. 



Stamens. — Six to eighteen, with short filaments and reddish-brown 

 anthers. 



Carpels. — Four to six, with short style and simple stigma. Seeds 

 four in each carpel. 



This Pondweed, with its pretty floating leaves and curious 

 flowers, is perfectly hardy in the water-gardens of northern Ohio. 

 The usual fault found with it is that it spreads too rapidly, as 

 the ripe seeds fall to the bottom of the pond and quickly germinate. 

 Although the plant cannot compare in beauty with Nymphsea 

 or Nelumbium, it has its personal merits and is worthy of cuhi- 

 vation. 



The inflorescence first appears enclosed in a tapering spathe 

 which is forced off as the white mass of bracts develop. When 

 in full bloom the flowering axis and the bracts together make 



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