CULTURE OF AQUATIC PLANTS. 
189 
species form very conspicuous and interesting plants to deck 
the hardy aquarium. 
Many of the species which are most difficult of culture are 
natives of the tropics, and require a congenial atmosphere 
(varying from 55° to 70° artificial heat, and up to 90° solar 
heat) to disclose their flowers: as they require intense light, 
they should be placed near to the glass : where cisterns are used, 
a waste pipe is requisite to take off the water when becoming 
injurious to growth. 
Stove and Exotic Species. 
Limnocharis Humroldtii belongs to the natural order 
Commelineae ; its name is derived from limne , mud, charis, 
grace ; it thrives in retentive loamy soil, and produces an abun¬ 
dance of its bright yellow three-petalled flowers, if planted in a 
cistern or tank where a good heat is maintained. Introduced 
from Buenos Ayres in 1831. 
Nelumbium speciosum, from nelumbos , its name in Ceylon, 
belongs to the natural order Nymphceacece. The delicate colour 
of its bright pink flowers makes it a desirable object: it requires 
to be kept dry after the blooming season, and again excited 
about the beginning of February. The fruit of N. speciosum, is 
supposed to be the Egyptian bean of Pythagoras : it grows in 
great luxuriance in the ditches, in all the hotter countries of 
the East; and requires intense heat to expand its flowers. 
Byblis l ini folia, named from Byblis , daughter of Miletus, 
ranks in the natural order Droseracece ; it is a pretty, though 
minute plant, with blossoms of a beautiful blue, which are pro¬ 
duced freely when planted in a good loamy soil; but it succeeds 
best when placed in a shallow cistern in the stove. Native of 
New Holland, introduced in 1800. 
Desmanthus natans, a native of China, is a beautiful and 
interesting aquatic, producing its singular white flowers in 
abundance if planted in a retentive soil, in a cistern where there 
is constant heat; while its foliage being dark green, and sensi¬ 
tive to the touch, forms a happy contrast wfith the flowers. It 
belongs to the natural order Leguminosce : introduced from 
China in 1800. 
Papyrus antiquorum ; derived from the Syrian babeer , 
whence the Egyptian word papyrus , paper : it belongs to the 
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