9i8 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



purplish- violet, and are often expanded beneath the surface of 

 the water, in which position they remain. It produces seeds 

 freely, which are larger than those of the Victoria and oval in 

 shape. When ripe, these should be kept until wanted for sowing 

 in a jar of water at about 5odeg. Fahr., or they will quickly 

 germinate. E. ferox is a vigorous plant, and can be successfully 

 grown in a large pot or tub under similar cultural conditions 

 to those recommended for the Vicfoj-ia ; and, of course, it can 

 be accommodated in a much smaller space than the plant just 

 referred to. 



The following is an alphabetical list of the most desirable 

 tropical and tender Aquatic or moisture-loving plants for cultivating 

 in a Lily tank. Excepting the Aponogetons, they flourish in a 

 similar compost to that recommended for Water Lilies. 



Aponogeton fenestrale {Oiiviraiidra fenestralis^ Lace-leaf 

 or Lattice-leaf Plant). — This rare and remarkably handsome 

 species is singularly interesting on account of the skeletonised 

 appearance of its elegant submerged leaves. They are oblong 

 in shape, with a stout mid-rib, and parallel with this on each 

 side are several slender nerves extending the entire length of 

 the leaf; these are connected by numerous short cross-nerves, 

 which impart to the leaf the pretty lace or lattice-work appearance, 

 from which the plant derives its common name. Well-developed 

 leaves are from i2in. to i8in. in length, and 4in. to 5in. in breadth, 

 of a deep green, and more or less horizontally arranged just beneath 

 the surface of the water. The twin-spiked scape which rises 

 above the surface bears numerous closely-packed, small, whitish 

 flowers. Another species in the genus — A. Ber?ie?'iaua {Ouvi?'- 

 andra Ber7teria7ia) — has fenestrate leaves, and is equally as 

 interesting as, and rarer than, the one just described, but not 

 so handsome. The leaves are longer and much narrower, and 

 the nerves are stouter and much closer together ; it therefore 

 does not present the same delicate and beautiful appearance of 

 the Lace-leaf plant. It also differs in having a four-spiked 

 scape, with the pale rose-coloured flowers more sparsely arranged. 

 The same cultural conditions as recommended for A. feiiest7-aie 

 will meet the requirements of this species. 



Cabomba aquatica. — A small and interesting plant with sub- 

 merged and floating leaves. The former are deeply divided, 

 with the segments very finely cut on short petioles ; the latter 

 are shield-shaped, entire, and the petioles much longer. The 

 solitary yellow flowers are insignificant, and are arranged in the 

 axils of the leaves. 



Ceratopteris thalictroides. — A monotypic genus, the species 

 being an interesting Water-Fern with handsome much-divided 

 fronds, the fertile ones taller and more erect-growing than the 

 sterile ones. It is easily increased by spores, and also by 



