ON AQUATIC PLANTS. 



919 



proliferous buds formed on the sterile fronds which, if laid on 

 wet soil, soon develop into plants. 



Cyperus alternifolius. — This well-known and handsome 

 plant needs no describing. It is very accommodating, suiting 

 itself to ordinary pot culture, and thriving equally well when 

 treated as an Aquatic with its roots submerged in water, in which 

 position it is strikingly effective. C. a. variegatus is equally 

 as handsome and effective as the type, although a little less 

 sturdy in its growth. C. natalensis is a very desirable and 

 handsome plant, with tufts of numerous long, narrow, deep-green 

 leaves gracefully disposed. Like C. alternifolius^ it is an excellent 

 subject for ordinary pot culture, and thrives equally well with its 

 roots submerged in water. Height 2ft. to 3ft. C. Papyrus 

 {^Papyrus antiquortim, Egyptian Paper Reed) is a particularly 

 ornamental plant, having erect, long, triangular stems, surmounted 

 with umbels of pendent thread-like leaves, which present a 

 graceful and very effective appearance. It is of vigorous 

 growth, and although 

 usually treated as an 

 Aquatic, it may be 

 successfully grown in 

 a pot placed in a pan 

 of water. This species 

 is also historically in- 

 teresting from the fact 

 that it was the plant 

 which yielded the 

 Papyrus of the ancient 

 Egyptians. Height 

 8ft. to I oft. 



ElCHHORNIA AZUREA 



{Pontederia aziirea, 

 Blue Water- Hyacinth) 

 (Fig. 608). — This is 

 a very desirable 

 Aquatic, with stout, 

 erect - growing scapes, 

 bearing numerous 

 clear lavender - blue, 

 funnel-shaped flowers ; 

 the upper and larger 

 segments are marked 

 in the centre with a 

 yellow heart - shaped 

 blotch, margined with white, 

 deeply toothed, which imparts 

 fringed appearance. It is a very 



Fig. 608. — ElCHHORNIA azurea. 



and the three inner ones are 

 to the flowers a pretty delicately- 



free-flowering 



and 



vigorous- 



