t 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
3-26 
NEW, NEGLECTED OR LITTLE KNOWN PLANTS 
The genus Hydrophyllum, Water- 
Leaf, consists of the six species herein 
described, no more known as far as T 
can learn. The origin of the name 
Hydrophyllum is involved in obscurity. 
Everybody, at all conversant with 
Greek, knows that Hydrophyllum means 
“Water-Leaf." But why did Linnjeus, 
the great botanist, in 17.53 apply the 
name Hydrophyllum, “Water-Leaf," to 
this genus? 
I have grown one species of this genus 
for man}' years in my flower garden, 
and have noticed that after a storm, 
water remains a long time in the de- 
pressions upon the upper surface of the 
leaves, and in the deeply channelled up- 
per side of leaf stalk, especially at the 
base where it joins the stem of the 
plant. Probably Linnaeus observed this. 
I have often wondered why this genus 
is not better appreciated. No one seems 
to know it well ; even gardening ency- 
clopedias fail to do it justice. 
Very many know and like to grow, 
various species of Gilia, Nemophila, 
Placelia and Myosotis (Forget-me- 
Nots), but know nothing of Hydro- 
phyllums, just as worthy of culture as 
those just mentioned, some of them well 
worthy of a place in our foremost gar- 
dens, parks and cemeteries. 
As these six species differ very widely 
as to habit, beauty and use, I shall care- 
fully describe each. 
1. Hydrophyllum \'irginicum, L. Vir- 
ginia; Water-Leaf: This is one of the 
two species named and described by Lin- 
naeus. More than fifteen years ago I 
found a clump of this species in bloom, 
the rather pleasing shade of color catch- 
ing my fancy, but I did not especially 
care for the plant at first. I was grow- 
ing more than 100 other ornamentals, 
gems from all lands. The clump is to- 
day fully three feet long and two feet 
wide, a solid compact mass — the root 
leaves a dense mass 10 inches high — 
beautiful in leaf and in flower’ and I 
would about as soon think of parting 
with my Iris (many species), lilies, 
pteonies, roses or other choicest gems as 
to part with this. In its season it is my 
most indispensable cut flower for bou- 
f|uet making. 
I — The W.\ter Le.wes. 
d'he many creeping root stalks mat 
closely together forming a large and 
very dense clump, from which rise very 
many root leaves and many angular, 
more or less branching stems about 1 
foot high. The plant is especialh- hand- 
some when it begins to grow in early 
spring, the large dark green pinnate 
leaves beautifully blotched with white, 
this white changing to whitish green 
when the leaves are old. So the foliage 
is always handsomely mottled. Were 
the flowers of no beauty the foliage 
alone renders the plant well worthy of 
a place in our flower garden. 
The branching stems bear many dense 
clusters of rather small flowers, like 
those of the hepaticas, phlox subulata, 
viola pedata, etc., exceedingly varialjle 
in color, scarcely two plants with flow- 
ers of same shade of color, ranging from 
pure white, through dull white, purple to 
very deep violet purple, some shades not 
at all attractive. The pure white and 
darkest shades are very fine. But the 
plant I have grown for upwards of 
fifteen years I prefer to all that I have 
seen, it being one of the most remark- 
able flowers in all of my collection. It 
is of a peculiar light purple, not very 
attractive when in a cluster by itself 
alone. But it has' a property that I know 
of no other flower possessing, that I 
have never heard mentioned of any 
other flower, that of vastly adding to 
the beauty of flowers when placed with 
them, either with a single flower of an- 
other kind or in a bouc|uet of many 
kinds. Place a cluster of these flowers 
with the Iris, rose, pfeonia or lilac, or 
any other flower of its season, and it 
vastly enhances the beauty of the flower 
with which it is placed (some kinds 
more than others), and itself becomes a 
thing of beauty ; the effect of this com- 
bination is always a surprise to those who 
see it the first time. My large clump 
produces more flowers than any among 
my hardy perennials, and yet the supply 
is none too great for I can make no 
bouquet without it while it lasts, the 
small dense clusters of rather pale flow- 
ers combining most beautifully with the 
brilliant hues of larger flowers, creating 
a rich harmony of colors in the entire 
bouquet, vastly enhancing the beauty. 
The flower is not particularly handsome 
by itself alone, not even attractive; its 
beauty only appears when combined with 
other flowers. It is therefore one of 
the very best of cut flowers for the 
florist, or any one liking cut flowers, 
while its very beautiful foliage, espe- 
cially in the spring and early summer, 
renders it well worthy of a place in our 
formal flower gardens, parks and ceme- 
teries. Should always be grown in 
large masses, the larger the better. As 
not all the various shades of color in 
these flowers are handsome, even pretty, 
while others are especially so, some 
nurseryman should make a selection of 
the best colors and propagate them, as 
no one would like the pale, dull colored 
ones. It is a plant of the easiest growth, 
flourishing anywhere if not too wet or 
too dry. Of all the Hydroph}llums this 
is the only one tliat makes a strong- 
bold effect in the flower garden, the 
only one that will flourish anywhere, 
the only one making large showy 
masses. Hence it is the best for gen- 
eral culture and the best of all for the 
florist. 
2 . Hydrophyllum macrophyllum, 
Nutt; large-leaved water-leaf: An- 
other perennial species, and much the 
largest of the genus, with a rather thick 
stem 3 to 3 feet tall, covered with long 
wool}' hairs. Leaves lobed or pinnate, 
very large, lower often a foot long. 
Flowers larger than those of H. vir- 
ginicum, in very dense sound clusters, 
nearly white. Prefers shades. Worthy 
of planting in ornamental woodlands. 
Flowers in June. 
3. Hydrophyllum appendiculatum, 
Michse ; appendaged water-leaf : This 
species is a biennial, not flowering until 
the second year and then only once. 
Stem little branched, angular, slender 
and weak, rough, hairy. Flowers in 
broad, loose clusters, larger than those 
of either of the preceding, the largest 
of the genus. Violet, blue or purple, 
many shades, to white, very pretty, 
fine for cut flowers. Worthy of a place 
in the border, where very conspicuous 
'{Continued on X ) 
