PLANTS FOR THE WATERSIDE 



With the exception of the Water Lilies and the yellow- 

 flowered Villarsia, none of the plants actually growing 

 in the water afford showy colouring by their blossoms, 

 but in the damp soil of the banks edging lakes, ponds 

 and streams, many bright-flowered subjects may be 

 established as well as plants of exceptionally noble 

 foliage. Among the most striking of these are : — 



Epilobium. — Willow Herb. E. angustifolium is a native 

 of England, and grows to a height of six feet. It bears 

 upright spikes of deep, rose-coloured flowers, and 

 thrives in any damp spot. Large breadths in full bloom 

 in the summer months have a handsome effect. There 

 is a pretty white-flowered form of this species. E. 

 hirsutum is another native species of stouter growth than 

 E. angustifolium and bearing paler flowers. 



Equisetum. — Horsetail. E. maximum is a vigorous 

 plant attaining a height of six feet, flourishing in damp 

 ground. Its whorls of slender branchlets rising one 

 above the other give it an uncommon effect. 



Gunnera. — The grandest of all waterside plants. G. 

 manicata and G. scabra are both noble species, but the 

 former produces the largest leaves. A great clump of 

 this standing by the waterside is, in the summer, when 

 the foliage is fully expanded, a notable sight. It grows 

 most vigorously in deep, rich soil close to water, strong 

 examples producing giant leaves over ten feet in diameter 

 held on stems eight feet and more in height. The 

 columnar spikes of minute greenish-red flowers are curi- 

 ous rather than beautiful. It has been recommended that 

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