PLANTS GROWING IN WATER. 41 
FLOATING-HEART. (Plate XTT.) 
Limndnthemum lacunosum. 
FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 
Buckbean. Yellow. Scentless. Maine to Florida. July, August. 
flowers: growing in an umbel near the top of the stalk from under the 
leaves. Calyx: five-parted. Corolla: wheel-shaped, the border in divisions 
of five, fringed and incurved at the edges. Stamens: five. Pistil: one. 
fruit: a capsule with numerous seeds. Leaves: growing on slender, long, 
twining petioles ; ovate-orbicular; purplish beneath. 
The floating-heart has never inspired the poets with any of 
the ardour that they have felt for members of the gentian 
family to which it is related; and yet it would seem as though 
its name alone should awaken some drowsy muse. It is true 
that the flower is far from being such a raving beauty as the 
fringed gentian ; but it is very interesting. Its parts alternate 
in a systematic way that shows it understands good government. 
The petals alternate with the sepals and the stamens with the 
petals, while alternating with the stamens are five glands. 
These glands, it is supposed, were originally another set of 
stamens that have been absorbed at an early stage by the petals. 
The root-like tubers that start out near the flowers at the end 
of the petiole, show a similar form of reproduction as the 
strawberry does with its leafy shoots at the end of runners. 
At the approach of cold weather they detach themselves from 
the main plant and sink to the bottom of the pond, where they 
root in the mud. With the return of the spring they are thus 
ready to send above vigourous, renewed stock. 
AMERICAN BROOKLIME. 
Verénica Americana. 
FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 
Figwort. Blue. Scentless. Mostly north and west. A pril-Septensber. 
Flowers: growing loosely in axillary, slender racemes. Corolla: wheel- 
shaped, of four lobes. Calyx: four-parted. Stamens: two. fistzl: one. 
Leaves : on petioles ; opposite ;.oblong or lanceolate; serrated. Stem : smooth; 
slightly curving and branched. 
It is mostly in brooks and watery ditches that we find this 
dear little plant. Children often mistake it for the wild forget- 
me-not and are invariably disappointed when they learn that it 
bears no more tender name than American brooklime. 
