Part I. HARDY AQ UA TIC PLANTS. 7 1 



produces a more pleasing effect over a bit of rich, soft, boggy 

 ground. It will also grow by the side of water. Calla cethiopica, 

 the well-known and beautiful " Lily of the Nile," is hardy enough 

 in some places if planted rather deep, and in nearly all it may be 

 stood out for the summer ; but except in quiet waters, in the 

 South of England and Ireland, I doubt if it would make any 

 progress. However, as it is a plant so commonly cultivated, it 

 may be tried without loss in favourable positions. The pine-like 

 Water Soldier (Stratiotes aloides) is so distinct that it is worthy 

 qf a place ; there is a pond chokeful of this plant at Tooting, and 

 it is common in the fens. It is allied to the Frogbit (Hydrocharis 

 morsus-rana), which, like the species of Water Ranunculi and 

 some other fast-growing and fast-disappearing families, I must 

 not here particularise; they cannot be "established" perma- 

 nently in one spot like the other things mentioned. The tufted 

 Loose-strife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora) flourishes on wet banks and 

 ditches, and in a foot or two of water. It is curiously beautiful 

 when in flower ; rather scarce as a British plant, but fouiid in 

 the North of England and in Scotland. Pontederia cordata is a 

 stout, firm-rooting, and perfectly hardy American water-herb, 

 with erect distinct habit, and blue flowers ; not difficult to obtain 

 from botanic garden or nursery. There is a small Sweet-flag 

 (Acorus gramineus) which is worth a place, and has also a well- 

 variegated variety, while the common Acorus, or Sweet-flag, will 

 be associated with the Water Iris (I. pseudacorus), the rather 

 ornamental Water Plantain (Alisma Plantago), and the pretty 

 Alisma ranunculoides, if it can be procured ; it is not nearly so 

 common as the Water Plantain. The pretty and interesting 

 little Star Damasonium of the southern and eastern counties of 

 England is very interesting, but, being an annual, is not to be 

 recommended to any but those who desire to make a full 

 collection, and who could and. would provide a special spot for 

 the more minute and delicate kinds. In such a spot, or even in 

 the basin of a fountain, where they should be safely watched from 

 being choked by larger weeds, the very tiny and pretty yellow 

 Water Lily, Nupkar Kalmiana, the little white Nymphaa odorata. 

 Lobelia Dortmanna, and not a few other things, might be grown. 

 The Water LobeUa does not seem to thrive away from the 

 shallow parts of the northern lakes, getting choked by the 

 numerous water weeds. Aponogeton distachyon is a singularly 

 pretty plant, a native of the Cape of Good Hope, which is 



