170 GOLDFISH VARIETIES AND 
Sagittaria gigantea is believed to be a cultivated variety of S. sagit- 
taefolia. Its leaves are broad and stocky, having a decidedly substantial 
quality and is one of the easiest plants to succeed with. A healthy speci- 
men is quite light in weight and on this account must be well planted with 
roots extending in different directions. Once established it holds well and 
will stand more rough usage from contact with fish-nets, etc., than any 
other aquatic. Height, 10 to 20 inches. It is better suited in appearance 
to a large aquarium than a small one, but a single Giant Sagittaria in the 
centre of a smaller tank, surrounded by some of its lesser cousins makes 
a good effect. So popular has this plant deservedly become that dealers 
have difficulty in supplying it, and they are always ready to buy up any 
surplus stock. 
Sagittaria subulata has recently come into popularity on account of its 
small size. Fanciers of tropical fishes, now becoming so numerous, gener- 
ally use several small aquaria, and in order to produce a symmetrical 
picture it is necessary to introduce plants of suitable proportion. The 
leaves are of a rather dark shade of green, narrow and thick through, 
presenting a strong, wiry appearance. Sagittaria subulata grows from 3 
to 7 inches, the stronger the light, the shorter the leaves. It multiplies 
rapidly from runners and soon carpets the bottom of the aquarium, mak- 
ing either a good spawning bed or a miniature thicket in which young 
fishes may hide from cannibalistic parents. Can be had from some dealers 
and is collected in the coastwise States from New York to Alabama. It 
is incorrectly known as S. pusilla. 
VALLISNERIA 
Vallisneria (Vallisneria spiralis) is another of the grass-like plants, 
having strap-shaped leaves of the same breadth their entire length. It is 
known as Channel Grass, Eel Grass and Tape Grass. Appearing some- 
what like Sagittaria, it has a distinct individuality of its own. The 
leaves are of a lighter green and have a more translucent quality than 
Sagittaria. Also the plant tends more to rise vertically in undulating lines, 
which produces a very pleasant decorative effect, being of a less spreading 
contour than Vallisneria. The leaves may also be identified by the mar- 
gins being of a slightly different shade of green. By reflected light the 
margins appear the darker, but if held up to the light, the centre is the 
darker when viewed by transmitted light. Vallisneria is probably with- 
out a superior as an oxygenator. For use in large aquaria, particularly 
where artistic effects are striven for, it is without an equal. The 
aquarium shown in colors as our frontispiece is featured principally by 
this plant, although printing ink falls far short of giving an adequate idea 
of the radiant, light silky green color of the leaves themselves. 
