years ago, that Mr. Bicheno had observed it in the same neighbourhood. — 
Cambridgesh. Near the bridge at Ely; Stretham Ferry; Ranipton; Audrey 
Causeway; Mepole ; beyond Littleport ; March; &c.: Rev R. Rki.han. — 
Cheshire ; In ponds about four miles from Holme’s Chapel: Mr. Hunter. In 
several ponds near Gorton, four miles from Stockport: Mr. G. Holme. — 
Lincolnshire ; In the fen ditches, and those in the marsh behind the sea bank, 
where the water is deep and the current slow: Sir Joseph Banks. Near the 
new bridge at Gainsborough: Sir T. G. Cui.lum. — Norfolk; About Bungay, 
and various other places in Norfolk: Mr. Woodward. Near Lynn: Mr. E. 
Foster, jun. Ditches by the side of Acle Dam, plentifully : Mr. Wicg. Ditch 
on the side of Haddisco Dam, by the Turnpike Gate ; and in vast abundance on 
Hoveton Common: D. Turner, Esq. Lynn Regis; 1826: G. Howitt, in 
N. B. G. Abundant in the peat-holes, Royden Fen: Rev. A. Bloxam. — 
Northamptonsh. In the fen ditches: Morton. — Northumberland; Naturalized 
in the ponds at Wallington and north of Cambo; ponds at Nether Witton ; 
brought from the S. of England: N. J. Winch, Esq. — Notts; Clay-pits, in 
Stoke Park, near Newton, (Ordoyno); in the moat at Strelley : Dr. Howitt, 
in N. B.G. — Shropsh. Lilleshall Pond: Miss Me. Ghie. — Si/ffolk: Lowdham 
Hall Mere: Crakef.. Ditches near Bungay and Worlingham: Mr. Wood- 
ward. At Bradwell and elsewhere about Yarmouth; on Haddisco Dam, 
close by the turnpike Gate: Mr. Wicg. — Surrey ; In the pond opposite the 
Three Houses, Wandsworth Common; and in the wide brook at the foot of 
Lavender Hill. It was first introduced to this neighbourhood by Mr.W. Ander- 
son, of the Chelsea Gaiden, and has now become completely naturalized : Mr. 
W. Pamplin, jun. — Yorksh. Near Beverley: Colonfe Macheli.. In the 
Gyme near Thorn : Mr. Robson. — SCOTLAND. Edinburghsh. Dudding- 
stou Loch: Mr. H. C. Watson, in N. B.G. — Forforsh. Forfar Loch, intro- 
duced by Mr. Don. — Perthsh. Loch of Clunie: Rev. Mr. Me. Ritchie. Blair 
Athol, (Boue): N. J. Winch, Esq.— I RELAN D. Near Crum-castle and 
Castle Saunderson on the banks of Loch Erne ; also on the banks of the Shan- 
non, near Poitumna ; Belfast Water-course: Mr. Templeton. 
Perennial. — Flowers in July. 
Root fibrous. Stem none. Leaves all radical, triangular, sword- 
shaped, from 6 to 9 inches long, sharply toothed at the margin ; 
forming star-like tufts, as in the Aloes. Scape ( flower-stalk J soli- 
tary, firm, stout, two-edged, shorter than the leaves, single-flowered. 
Flowers white, large and handsome, from a compressed 2-leaved 
spatlia. Stamens short ; anthers awl-shaped, with rough globose 
pollen. Fruit somewhat egg-shaped, beaked, drooping, fleshy ; 
cells with a double membrane, very thin, separating lengthwise, 
full of crystalline pulp. Seeds from 10 to 12 in each cell, egg- 
shaped, somewhat angular, of a pale, brownish red, nestling in the 
pulp, and fastened to the rind of the fruit, near the external angles 
of the cells. Gasrtner says, the pulp in its natural state is clear, 
like the vitreous humour of the eye ; in spirits of wine it becomes 
opaque and white, like the white of an egg when boiled; plunged 
into water it becomes clear again. 
This singular plant, which is a native of Siberia as well as of Europe, is a 
stolomferous aquatic, and remains submerged during the Autumn and Winter 
months ; but, as Spring advances, it puts forth, from amongst its leaves, numer- 
ous thick runners, each of which bears at its extiemity a gemma, or young 
plant, which rises to the surface of the water, where it grows to maturity, and 
where it floats till after its season of floweting, when it sinks to the bottom of the 
water, and becomes, in its turn, the parent of another race of young offsets; in 
this manner it frequently so entirely fills up ditches and ponds as to exclude all 
other herbage. The anthers are occasionally imperfect in one flower, the 
stigmas in another, whence some have thought the flowers dioecious, but sir 
J. E. Smith observes, that such casual imperfection in those parts is frequent in 
plants that increase much by root. A great variety of insects are nourished by 
this plant ; some of them pursue it down to the bottom of the water, and devour 
the leaves. Swine eatit, goats refuse it. 
