882 



THE BOOK OF CARDENING. 



Fig. 582. — Aponogeton 

 distachyon 



Hawthorn-scented. It prefers 

 a position where there is a 

 gentle current of water, and 

 increases rapidly by means of 

 its tuberous offsets. 



Brasenia peltata (Hydro- 

 peltis purpurea) (American 

 Water Shield) is a handsome 

 little plant with oval -shaped 

 peltate leaves and small pur- 

 plish-coloured flowers. 



Elisma natans (Floating 



Water Plantain) is a rare British plant, of small and neat habit 



of growth, and bears showy three-petalled white flowers. 



Hottonia palustris (Water Violet) (Fig. 583). — This is one of 



the most beautiful of our native Aquatics. It has finely pinnate 



submerged leaves. The scapes rise above the surface of the 



water to a height 



of about i2in., and 



bear whorls of several 



pretty rosy-lilac 



coloured flowers. 

 Hydrocharis 



morsus-ranjE (Com- 

 mon Frogbit) (Fig. 



584). — This elegant 



little plant has small 



orbicular or kidney- 

 shaped leaves - and 



three-petalled white 



flowers. 

 Hydrocleys Com- 



mersoni {Limno- 



charis Humboldtii) 



(the Water Poppy) 



is a neat-growing, 



lender Aquatic, and 



produces pretty, pale 



yellow flowers -with 



great freedom. It 



is very effective 



for introducing in 



shallow water 



during the summer 



months, but requires 



the protection of a 



greenhouse in the 



winter. Ftg. 583. — Hottonia palustris. 



