AQUATIC PLANTS. 



Ut 



beautiful as of any other hardy kind ; the leaves 

 of established plants are raised above the water, and 

 they are light green in colour, of a shape quite 

 distinct from its congeners, the apex of each lobe 

 being tui-ned slightly in the form of a sickle. It 

 flowers in July. There is a small variety of this, 

 called minor, of which there is a pretty rose-coloured 

 form, X. odorata, var. minor jlorihus roseis. A lovely 

 figure of the latter is published in the Botanical 

 Magazine, 1883, t. 6708. The preceding are 

 natives of North America. N. nitida is said to 

 be a variety of this species, but according to the 

 Botanical Magazine its root-stock is perpendicular, 

 not spreading horizontally as in the present case. 

 The flowers are white, two and a half inches across, 

 and not scented. It is probably not hardy. 



3". tuberosa. — An excellent companion for our 

 native "Water-lily and jV. odorata, both of which 

 at first sight it resembles ; it is free-flowering, and 

 has splendid dark green foliage, which is prone 

 to grow out of the water. There is a figure of the 

 flower and leaf in the Botanical Magazine, 1881, t. 

 6536. Flowers in July and August. Native of the 

 North-eastern United States. A wonderfully beau- 

 tiful form of this, with yellow flowers, lately sent out 

 by a French raiser, is called at Kew Tubcrosa faves- 

 cens. The raiser considers it nearer N. alba^ and calls 

 it Marliacea chromateUa. 



Orontium aquaticum (Golden Club).— A handsome 

 Aroid, somewhat rare, with elliptical or oblong 

 smooth glaucous leaves, twelve or eighteen inches 

 long, possessing a pretty spotted scape, white just 

 below the spadix, the lower part of which is yellow. 

 Propagated by division, but increases slowly. Flowers 

 in summer. Native of North America. 



Peltandra virginiea. — This is an Aroid without 

 any striking beauty, though the leaves are somewhat 

 ornamental, and it grows very easily. Its height is 

 about two feet, in habit much like a Richardia. The 

 leaves are sagittate, and pale green in colour. It 

 should be planted at about the level of the water. 

 The plant sold as Calla occulta has been proved in 

 the Cambridge Botanic Garden to be a narrow- 

 leaved variety of this. Known often as Caladium. vir-' 

 gmicum. Flowers in July. Native of North America. 



Fontederia eoi^data.— This is a beautiful plant about 

 three feet high, ^\ith lance-like bright green leaves 

 on long stalks, and dense spikes of small blue flowers. 

 It is the only hardy species, but there is a variety 

 of this with narrower leaves, differing slightly in 

 shape, called angustifolia. The ornamental character 

 of the one is equal to that of the other. They are 

 adapted for the sides of a lake or bog-pond, where 

 they should be planted a little below the level of the 

 water. Both are natives of North America. They 

 flower in July. Pontederiacece. 



Potentilla Comarum [Comarum palustrv), the Marsh- 

 cinquefoil. — Though not very ornamental, this plant 

 may be grown for its curious appearance in every 

 collection not the smallest. It has long and woody 

 purple-brown stems, with pale green leaves, and it 

 bears few dull purplish-brown flowers. Planted 

 near the level of the water it grows well, but not 

 rapidly. The root-stock is powerfully astringent, and 

 yields a yellow dye. It is British and European, 

 being found also in North Asia and North America. 

 Flowers in June. Posaccce. 



Panunculus Lingua (the Greater Spear-wort). — This 

 is well worth growing on account of its distinct and 

 bold habit, and fine yellow flowers two inches across. 

 The stems grow erect to a height of about three feet,, 

 and the leaves are lanceolate, six to ten inches long. 

 It should be planted a few inches down in the water ; 

 if planted on the ground above it soon gi'ows down 

 to the position recommended. Native of temperate 

 Europe and North-west Asia, It flowers from July 

 to September. 



P. Flammula (the Lesser Spear-wort) is scarcely 

 worth popular favour, but it grows easily without 

 becoming a nuisance, and being of low growth, a 

 place is easily found for it. It likes a wet place, but 

 not in water. These Spear- worts are both British. 

 Pammculacece. 



■ The Ivy-leaved Ranunculus {P. hederaceus) may b& 

 mentioned for very shallow water on account of its 

 pretty foliage. The flowers are small and white. 

 Some of the varieties of P. aquatilis are extremely 

 pretty as they grow wild, but for the garden thej' 

 are somewhat weedy. This species grows in the 

 water. 



Pichardia africana (Ai'um Lily). — Few are pei^haps 

 aware that this well-known plant is perfectly hardy» 

 but it is so if planted about a foot deep in water, and 

 it is of course highly ornamental. It does best, how- 

 ever, in the milder parts of the country. Probably it 

 would perish if not planted so deeply as to be safe 

 from frost. Commonly known as Calla or Pichardia 

 ^thiopica. Native of the Cape. Flowers out of 

 doors in summer. Aroidem. 



Pivnex liydrolapatlmm. — The finest of our Britisli 

 Docks, and a noble-foliaged plant for a rough corner. 

 It grows from three to six feet high, and has leaves 

 one to two feet long. Should be planted where its 

 roots can reach water. Polygonece. 



Sagitaria sagittifolia (Arrow-head). — An attractive 

 plant with arrow-shaped leaves projecting out of 

 the water, and racemes of white flowers, with petals 

 purplish below. It is not uncommon in English 

 ditclies and canals. Far more attractive, and even a 

 magnificent kind, is the double variety. Its flowers 

 are of the most delicate and pure white, more double 

 than a Rose and perhaps as lovely. This is the most 



