300 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
HARDY WATER PLANTS. 
Acorus (Sweet Flag). — A genus of hardy perennials, be- 
longing to the Arum family (Aroideae), adapted for culture on 
the banks of lakes and streams or in shallow ponds. The 
plants have sword or grass-like leaves and yellowish arum- 
like flowers. There are two species in cultivation. One, the 
Sweet Sedge (A. Calamus), is indigenous in the eastern 
counties, and may occasionally be found wild in Ireland. This 
has peculiarly scented foliage. The other species, the Grass- 
leaved Sweet Sedge (A. gramineus), has narrower leaves than 
the former. There is a pretty silvery-leaved variety of this, 
named variegatus, which is well worthy of culture. Plant in 
autumn or spring, and increase by division of the plants in 
March. 
Alisma (Water Plantain). — Pretty water plants, belong- 
ing to the Nat. Ord. Alismacem, and well adapted for growing 
on the margins of ponds and in water-courses. All are of very 
easy culture. A. Plantago is a handsome species, with tall 
elegant panicles of pink blossoms. A. lanceolata is a variety 
of the latter wuth narrower leaves and white flowers. A. ranun- 
culoides bears large white blossoms which float on the surface 
of the water, and A. natans is a small species which floats on 
the water. All do best in shallow water not more than a foot 
deep. Plant in summer. Increased by division or by seeds 
sown in a pot of good soil submerged in the water. A ranuncu- 
loides properly belongs to the genus Echinodorus, and A. 
natans to that of Ebsma. Both, however, are best know-n 
under the present generic name. 
Aponogeton (Cape Pond-flower or Water Hawthorn). — 
A half-hardy water perennial, belonging to the Nat. Ord. 
Naiadaceae, and a native of the Cape of Good Hope. Its 
leaves float on the surface of the water, and its flowers, which 
are borne freely, are white, with black anthers, and possess- 
ing a hawthorn-like scent. Flowers in summer. It can 
only be grown successfully outdoors in the south of England 
or in other sheltered spots. When grown outdoors plant in 
water 2ft. deep in April. In cold districts grow in a tank or 
tub in a cold house. 
Butomus (Flowering Rush). — A native waterside peren- 
nial of considerable beauty, and a member of the Water 
Plantain order (Alismaceae). B. umbellatus, the only species 
