APONOGETON DISTA'CHYON. 
TWO-SPIKED APONOGETON. 
Class. Order. 
HEXANDRIA. TRIGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
FLEURALES. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
C. G. Hope. 
6 inches. 
May, July. 
Perennial. 
in 1788. 
No. 559. 
The generic name, Aponogeton, is said to be com- 
pounded from the Celtic apon, water; and the Greek 
geiton, neigbour, significant of its place of growth, 
Distachyon is derived from the Greek dis, twice; 
and STACHYS,a spike, in allusion to its double spiked 
flower. 
Aponogeton distachyon is an aquatic plant, 
which was retained as an inhabitant of the tank or 
aquarium in the greenhouse for many years. It is 
deserving of such situation, and its native climate 
would, of course, indicate the propriety, of such 
protection. On being planted out in the open pond, 
it was soon however observed to luxuriate, increase, 
and become a most desirable ornament. Inthe aqua- 
rium of the Birmingham Botanic Garden, whence 
our specimen was obtained, it appears to have pro- 
pagated itself spontaneously by seed, and shown it- 
self as an aquatic that may become completely nat- 
uralized amongst us in such waters, as in winter, 
are never frozen to the bottom. Its clear white 
flowers are not only beautiful, but they are also de- 
liciously scented, having the almond-like odor of 
Tussilago fragrans. 
