726 THE VEGETATION OF THE LOWER WABASH VALLEY. 
age — often overtopped by tall stalks of marsh mallows (Hibiscus 
Moscheutos and H. militaris) bearing large and showy white or 
rose-colored flowers — we finally found a canoe tied to a willow tree 
on the bank; this we appropriated for the purpose of investigating 
the pond itself, and accordingly launched out upon the flower- 
studded water. We paddled smoothly along at first, over the still, 
deep water, almost coffee-colored from the decomposition of vegeta- 
ble matter, but still transparent, and looking down into its depths 
we could see only a tangled mass of submerged weeds of a moss-like 
or stringy form; then we brushed through water-lilies and, reach- 
ing out, plucked the beautiful snow-white, fragrant flowers of the 
lovely water nymph (Nympheea odorata) or the yellow ones of the 
more unpretending ‘ spatter-dock ” or yellow pond-lily (Nuphar _ 
advena). Little yellow, star-like flowers resting on the surface of 
the water, with their cypress vine-like leaves submerged, were _ 
found to be the Cabomba Caroliniana, a common aquatic of the 
Gulf States, and not before found beyond them ; while very curious 
peltate leaves, looking somewhat like miniatures of the great lotus 
or “ yonkapins”” (Nelumbium) beside them, but less circular in 
outline, were Brasenia peltata. As we passed plants of the 
Nelumbium, our canoe would now and then brush against the edge 
of one of their floating circular leaves, and set it revolving on 
the water like a wheel. Many leaves of this latter species which 
we measured were found to be 3 feet in diameter; this species 
was not then in flower, the blossoms having developed into those 
peculiar “toruses,” or top-shaped seed-cones, containing the edible, 
acorn-like seeds. Often we had the greatest difficulty in poling 
our canoe through the intricately tangled mass of floating and 
submerged weeds,* which appeared to be in almost endless variety, 
and among which we recognized, besides the species alr eady men- 
tioned, various species of Utricularia, Podostemon, Lemna, Wolf- 
fia, Potamogeton, Limnobium and Spongia. Having satisfie 
ourselves with our examination of the pond itself, we then took 
leisurely views of its banks, as we passed along over the water. 
A fronting growth of graceful willows, 20 or 30 feet high, formed the 
most prominent feature of the shore vegetation, and in the arms 
of the pond a jungle of Cephalanthus of a lower and denser growth, 
Say Goat ee 
Blew 5 ia connection it may be well to mention that this pond received its pe) ame 
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in his hand, and b i TE W DNES i "i ane 
a ott aun 5' weeds Was ULOHY 
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