ON AQUATIC PLANTS. 88 1 



scented, large, double flowers of a rich dark purplish-rose, 

 shaded with carmine ; it promises to be of good habit and 

 free-flowering, but at present it is one of the scarcest and most 

 expensive sorts. JSF. lucida has attractive, large, star-like flowers 

 of a soft, rosy-vermilion colour ; the leaves are heavily marked 

 with irregularly-shaped reddish-brown blotches. N. Marliacea 

 flammea is a lovely hybrid, having large flowers of an amaranth- 

 red, delicately suffused with white ; it is of robust habit, and 

 the leaves are marked w^ith reddish-brown. N. M. ignea 

 is distinct in colour and one of the very choicest of hardy 

 Water Lilies ; the flowers are large, of a brilliant reddish- 

 magenta, with bright orange-coloured stamens. JV. M. rubro- 

 punctata has large flowers of a deep reddish-purple, spotted with 

 carmine, and stamens of a dark orange-yellow ; it is a vigorous 

 grower of great merit. N. Robinsoni is a very desirable hybrid, 

 with medium-sized flowers of a violet-red colour on a yellow 

 ground, the centre petals being deeper in colour ; it is robust 

 and compact in habit, and the dark green leaves are marked 

 with unequal-sized spots of reddish-brown. N. sanguinea is 

 undoubtedly one of the best of the many beautiful hybrids yet 

 introduced ; the colour of the flowers may be described as a 

 rich dark crimson-purple, and the orange stamens produce a 

 charming contrast ; it flowers with great freedom and is of good 

 habit, but at present it is very scarce and expensive. 

 JV. Seignoureti has small, unattractive flowers, of a pale yellow, 

 tinted with carmine-rose ; but it is of robust and compact habit. 



Other Aquatics with Floating and Submerged Leaves. 



In introducing other Aquatics w^ith floating leaves, the Nuphars, 

 which are botanically closely allied to the Nymphseas, and of 

 similar habit of growth, may be planted where there is a depth 

 of water of from 2^ft. to 3ft. ; but they cannot be recommended 

 for including in tanks or where the water is of very limited 

 extent. They are vigorous-growing plants, with bold foliage, and 

 withstand exposure without suffering much injury ; for this reason 

 they are well adapted for situations in lakes and ponds where it 

 would be difficult to establish more conspicuous flowering Aquatics 

 of less vigorous habit. In choosing kinds that require a less 

 depth of water in which to permanently establish themselves, the 

 chief requirements in most cases will be met by making a 

 selection from the most striking species in the following list, 

 which likewise embraces those with submerged leaves : 



Alisma. — See Elisma. 



Aponogeton distachyon (Cape Pond Weed or Winter Haw- 

 thorn) (Fig. 582). — This is one of the most desirable of floating 

 Aquatics ; it blossoms the greater part of the year, and the 

 forked inflorescence and showy white bracts are deliciously 



3 L 



