152 
AQUARIUMS AND AQUATIC PLANTS. 
and //. arm (ltn:rc en, (reed-like,) perennials, 
attaining six feet in height. There are many 
others which grow in boggy situations, but 
they have little interest in cultivation. With 
the exception of the common reed, which is 
a plant of noble bearing, they are scarcely 
wortli introducing to a collection. The grasses 
constitute the natural order Graminaceas. 
Ilerpestis cuneifolia, (wedge-leaved Her- 
pestis,) is a small plant, growing about six i 
inches high, with wedge-shaped leaves, and 
blue flowers in August : native of North 
America. H.portidacarea, (porcelain-leaved,) 
II. amplcxicaidis, (stem-clasping,) II. ro- 
tundi folia, (round-leaved,) //. micraritha, 
(small-flowered,) and Brownii, (Brown's,) are 
weedy plants, requiring slight protection. 
They belong to the natural order Scrophu- 
lariaceai. 
Heteranthera, is a genus of floating peren- 
nial plants, with inconspicuous flowers ; //. 
acuta, (acute,) and H. limosa, (bog,) are 
North American plants. They belong to the 
natural order Pontederaccas. 
Hippurix vulgaris, (common Mare's-tail,) 
is a singular native plant, growing in ditches, 
and named Mare's-tail, from its crowded whorls 
of very slender linear-acute leaves. Its flowers 
are inconspicuous. By absorbing a great 
quantity of inflammable air, this plant is re- 
puted to assist in purifying the putrid air of 
marshes: it is eaten by wild ducks. It belongs 
to the natural order Haloragacese. 
Hotlonia palustris. 
llottoniapalustris, (marsh Water-violet,) is 
a beautiful perennial British plant, growing 
about a foot high : its finely cut leaves are all 
produced in clusters under water, and the 
upright spikes appear above the surface of the 
water, and have a very pretty appearance, with 
their whorls of pale, purplish, and yellowish- 
coioured flowers. It is found in ditches, and 
is one of the prettiest hardy aquatic plants. 
It belongs to the natural order Primulaceas. 
Hydrocharis Morsus-ranai, (common Frog- 
bit,) is one of the most beautiful of our smaller 
native water-plants. It is a perennial plant, 
growing in still water, and increasing by 
runners; it grows a few inches only above the 
water on which it floats: the leaves are of a 
roundish heart-shape, and the flowers white, 
consisting of three petals, blooming in June 
and July. It belongs to the natural order 
Hydrocharideffi. 
Lobelia Dortma7ina. 
Ilydropcllis purpurea, (purple Hydropeltis. ) 
is a slimy floating perennial plant, with peltate 
leaves, and has small reddish purple flowers 
in July and August: it is a native of North 
America. It belongs to the natural order 
Cabombacea3. 
Iris pseud^arorus, (yellowish Iris,) is a 
stately reedy-looking plant, growing three or 
four feet high, and producing very ornamental 
yellow flowers in June. It is a native peren- 
nial plant, found in moist places by the side of 
rivers and streams, and belongs to the natural 
order Jridaceae. 
Littorella lacustris, (plantain-leaved Shore- 
weed,) is a minute, delicate, native plant, 
growing on the margin of lakes, with oval- 
shaped leaves and white flowers, with long, 
tremulous stamens; it is a perennial, and 
flowers in the summer months. It beiongs to 
the natural order Plantaginaeece. 
Lobelia I>ortmanna, (water Lobelia,) is a 
perennial, with linear leaves, and an ■upright 
stem, a foot and a half high, bearing loose 
spikes of blue flowers in July and August. 
It is a native plant found in lakes, and is very 
ornamental. This belongs to the natural order 
Lobeliacese. 
Lysimachia thyrsijlora, (thyrse-flowered 
Loose-strife,) bears yellow flowers from May 
to July, and grows about a foot and a half 
high: it is found ia boggy places. Another 
species, L. vulgaris, (common Loose strife. , 
grows in damp places, and has yellow flowers. 
