1370.1 
AQUATICS.—CHAPTER I. 
35 
AQUATICS.— Chapter I. 
4, .-^^ATER Plants, usually termed Aquatics, are particularly interesting, 
wRetlier viewed as a grand natural and comprehensive group, or taken 
individually. This will be all the more apparent when their various 
peculiarities, and also their adaptation for ornamenting our stoves, 
conservatories, lakes, or ponds are closely observed. While some few cultivators, 
amateurs and others, give their partial attention to a very limited number, 
the greater portion are passed by unheeded, and thus our gardens are deprived of 
some of their most attractive ornaments. Some of these Water Plants need only 
an area of a few inches for their accommodation, while others occupy a considerable 
space when perfectly developed. I propose to point out, under their respective 
heads, the requirements of each, including stove, greenhouse, and hardy kinds, 
and to add cultural notes and remarks on the curious habits of some quaint 
members of this extraordinary family. 
The above remarks apply also in part to what I shall here term Amphi¬ 
bious Plants,”—plants suitable for fringing the margins of ponds, lakes, pools, or 
meres. I am not aware that these plants have hitherto been treated of, as a 
separate group, but they are very effective when judiciously placed, and might be 
termed sub-aquatic or swamp plants, though the term I have selected is the most 
expressive. This latter group may serve to remind us vividly of the autumnal 
rustling of hosts of swallows among our own native reeds at eventide. Anon 
we are on the banks of the Nile amongst the tall and stately stems of the papyrus, 
lotus, and bullrush, the favourite resort of the ibis, the pelican, and the widgeon. 
Take, for instance, the Aponogeton distachyon^ a plant that has existed in our 
gardens since 1788, in which year it was received from the Cape, and which is 
sufficiently attractive to merit a place in every garden, as the following remarks 
will show :—The flowers are produced on a forked spike, about three inches in 
length, and are of snowy whiteness, having the appearance of imbricated scales of 
shell-like consistency, with a tuft of jet black anthers at the base of each, and 
exhaling copiously the delicious perfume of the hawthorn. While the flowers rise 
just above the surface of the water, the leaves, which are from 6-in. to 15-in. 
long, by 1-in. wide, lie flat upon the surface, and are of a bright glossy green. 
The root-stock is an oblong tuber, two inches long, of a reddish-brown colour. 
This Aponogeton^ which is very nearly allied to the Ouvirandra fenestralis^ of 
Madagascar, is not very frequently met with, notwithstanding its many recom¬ 
mendations. As to culture, it would be difficult to place it where it would not 
flourish, if it were only put into the water. It has been observed in the month 
of January almost covering a large pond with a profusion of its lovely blossoms, 
and when thus planted no frost will kill it. When the water is shaded by large 
trees it flowers just as well. It also thrives beautifully when planted in con¬ 
servatory or greenhouse tanks, and appears quite at home there. When ^own 
