AQUARIUMS AND AQUATIC PLANTS. 
153 
Tiiey belong to the natural order Prirou- 
kcea3. 
Lt/ihrum Salicafia. 
Li//Iirum Sulicaria. (Common Lythrum.) 
— Though not strictly aquatic, yet being found 
on river banks, and being a plant of great 
beauty, it should never be omitted on the 
banks of a piece of water. It grows erect, 
four feet high, in favourable situations, and 
has cordate- lanceolate leaves, and long whorled 
spikes of purple flowers. It is a native plant, 
and belongs to the natural order Lythracere. 
Mtltyantltes trip/Hutu. 
MenyaiUhes. There are two hardy species. 
M. trifoliata, (three-leaved Buck bean,) is a 
perennial, with stems prostrate and rooting at 
the base, the upper part growing erect to about 
a loot in height. It has ternate (divided into 
three) leaves, and upright spikes, with whorls 
of pnle-coloured or whitish flowers. It is a 
very ornamental plant, flowering in July. 
Native of Britain, where, it is found in small 
rivulets and in muist places. In Sweden, this 
plant is raid to be used as a substitute, for 
hops; and the roots are powdered am! eaten in 
Lapland. M. iiiiirrirniiii. ( American Buck- 
bean,) is a perennial, growing a root high, 
and bearing white flowers in July: native of 
North America. These plants belong to the 
natural order Gentianacea;. 
Myosotis. These are pretty plants. M. 
palltstris, (marsh Scorpion-grass,) is really a 
beautiful perennial plant, found in wet places 
in many parts of the country ; it grows about 
a foot high, producing numerous corymbs of 
pretty blue and yellow flowers, known as the. 
"Forget-me-not:" they are produced all 
through the summer. 31. ccespitosa, (tufted 
Scorpion-grass,) is a similar plant to the last, 
but rather smaller, and the flowers are hardly 
so showy. It flowers in June and Jul)', and 
is met with in wet places in various parts of 
the country : there is a variety of the latter 
called macroca'i/T. Natural order Bora- 
ginacea?. 
Myriophyllum. (Water Milfoil.) — There 
are two native species, rather pretty perennial 
plants. M. spicatum, (spiked,) has spiked 
whorls of red flowers in July and August. 
M. verlicillatwn, (verticillate,) has green 
flowers in axillary whorls. The leaves of 
both are pinnated and capillary. They belong 
to the natural order Haloragete. 
Nwpkar. — These plants are all perennials, 
and are. nearly allied to Nympluea. N. lutea, 
(common yellow,) is a native plant growing 
in pools : it has cordate leaves and yellow 
flowers, in June and July: the roots rubbed 
or bruised with milk, destroy crickets and 
cockroaches. N. Kalmiana, (Kalm's,) has 
yellow flowers in July and August: the leaves 
are cordate a little out of the water : native of 
Canada. N. safjitta>fulia, (arrow-leaved,) has 
arrow- shaped leaves and yellow flowers, which 
open from June to September : native of 
North America. N.pum.ila, (dwarf yellow,) 
a Scotch plant, found there in lakes, lias ob- 
long cordate leaves, and yellow flowers in 
July and August. N. admna, (stranger,) 
has cordate, halt' erect leaves, and yellow 
flowers in July and August : native of North 
America. These plants belong to the natural 
order NymphaBaceas. 
Nympluea. (Water-lily.) — The hardy species 
which are floating plants with ample leaves, 
are very beautiful aquatics. The common 
white water-lily is. perhaps, unequalled. JY. 
nihil, (white,) is a native plant found in rivets, 
with cordate leaves and large white flowers, 
produced in June and July. It is stated, that 
the (lowers raise themselves out of the water, 
and expand about seven in the morning, and 
close again, reposing on tin- surface at four 
in the afternoon. Then' i* a variety also with 
white flowers, called cattqdetisis. N. reni- 
formis, (kidney-leaved,) has reniform leaves, 
and produces white flowers through the sum- 
mer; native of Carolina : requires slight pro- 
tection. .V. odorata, (sweet-scented,) has 
