AQUATIC AND BOG PLANTS. 



385 



Arundo conspicua is a noble grass for the water-side, 

 flowering two months before the Pampas Grass. 



A. Donax (The Great Reed). — Avery robust and hand- 

 some grass, growing 5-20 feet high, and rivalling a Bamboo 

 in grace and beauty ; easily grown in deep soils. There 

 are golden and silver variegated forms, and also a larger 

 form known as maxima. 



Caltha palustris (Water Buttercup). — Suitable for 

 lake or pond margins, or for massing in marshy places ; 



no native plant surpassing it in spring when in flower. 

 There are several double-flowered forms of it. 



Cardamine pratensis fl. pi. — Very pretty lilac flowers, 

 useful for massing in damp places. 



Cortaderia (Gynerium). — The Pampas Grasses, C. 

 aryentea and C. jubata (fig. 482), grouped or massed near 

 to lake margins, are highly effective. 



Cyperus longus. — A stately and vigorous-growing Sedge, 

 for water margins or for cover on islands. 



Fig. 481.— Bog Garden. 



Various kinds of Sedges, such as C. aspersus, C. lucidus, 

 C. pungens, C. vegetus, and C. laxus, may be used round 

 lake and large pond margins, &c. 



C. Papyrus (Egyptian Paper Reed) is very handsome 

 as grown in pots and tubs, and dropped out into sheltered 

 pools and tanks in May or June. It adds quite a tropical 

 character to water vegetation. 



Drosera. — The native "Sundews" are easily grown 

 on a carpet of living sphagnum in boggy or wet places in 

 full sunshine. 



Equisetum Telmateia. — Our largest native "Horsetail" 

 grows 3 to 6 feet high in wet soil. E. Drummondii and 

 E. sylvatiea and others are pretty in suitable places, 

 but unless restricted all are apt to run wild and become 

 weedy. 



Eriophorum polystachyon (Cotton Grass). — A slender 

 bog grass, with silvery tufts on gracefully thin stipes. 

 Common on Irish bogs, and has been called the "Irish 

 Edelweiss ". It grows best in wet peat. 



Ferxs. — Many Ferns do well along water margins, 



such as Osmunda (which see), Struthiopteris, Athyrium, 



and Scolopendrium. For damp walls and water-courses 



the latter are especially appropriate. In very warm 



Vol. I. 



and sheltered nooks with shade Lomaria magellanica 

 and Woodivardia radicans grow well and are very 

 effective. 



Gunnera manicata. — The largest and most effective of 

 all foliage plants for the water -side. Leaves 5-10 feet 

 across, and 10 feet high in favourable situations. Does 

 best in deep rich soil near water. Its leaves get torn by 

 high winds. 



G. scabra. — Similar to the last, but smaller, and will 

 grow better in dry places than G. manicata. 



G. insig7iis, with red leaf -stalks and veins, and G. 

 peltata, should also be tried. 



Houttuynia cordata. — A Japanese herb with purplish- 

 red leaves and terminal white flowers. Very pretty : 

 smells disagreeably when bruised. 



Iris laevigata {Kampferi) (Japanese Water Iris) (fig, 

 483). — Largely grown in the gardens of Japan, and a 

 plant of such infinite variety and beauty that wherever 

 they grow well they should be planted largely. There 

 are varieties of all colours — white, rose, peach, crimson, 

 purple, and blue. They thrive in deep. rich, peaty soil, 

 with plenty of moisture when growing. 



7. Pseudo-Acorus. — The common yellow Iris is well 



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