Aquarium Plants 63 



mer. Both varieties, if carefully collected 

 and transplanted in spring, will last for quite 

 a while and if put in a light place will flower 

 well. 



Water-aloe, Water-shears (Stratiotes al- 

 oides). This plant is an introduction from 

 Europe, where it grows in stagnant and 

 slowly flowing waters. The plant is distin- 

 guished from most of our aquatics by its pe- 

 culiar aloelike appearance. It is quite large, 

 the leaves are gathered into a dense rosette, 

 submerged, or with only the points of the 

 leaves above the surface of the water. The 

 flowers, which are white, three-leaved and 

 quite prominent, rarely appear in the aqua- 

 rium. The male and female flowers appear 

 on separate plants. The easiest propaga- 

 tion is through runners which form freely. 

 The plant floats in the water or can be 

 planted in the gravel. It is highly decora- 

 tive during the summer. In fall the leaves 

 die down and the plant forms the so-called 

 winterbuds which rest dormant in the 



