|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
The Water Fountain - Floating Aquatics |
N. peltatum is a native hardy plant growing in water at
least six inches deep but preferably not more than eighteen
inches. Trailing growths are produced which spread over the
surface of the water, the golden-yellow flowers each with three
petals fringed at the edges, standing just above the water.
Often known as the Water Fringe this plant is deserving of a
place in every good water garden and it is sometimes listed as
Villarsia nymphoides.
Phyllanthus flttitans is a really pretty floating plant having
rounded leaves which at first are a showy red colour. As they
grow older the red disappears so that the mature foliage is a
rich green shade. When the younger coloured leaves are seen
against the green foliage the effect is most pleasing. The roots,
too, are red. There are other species, which however, are more
suitable for tropical conditions.
Riccia fluitans produces quantities of pale, green, much-
divided foliage in which fish like to hide, and it is a good
surface oxygenator.
R. nutans is also suitable for fish tanks. The slender growths
with serrated edges, float just under the surface. They are not
entirely hardy and except in really sheltered positions, are
unlikely to survive outdoors during the winter.-
Salvinia species are excellent small-growing aquatics for in-
door aquariums. The slender stems produce pale green velvety-
soft leaves with rolled edges. The plants appear to have
extremely few roots, instead, there appear at the leaf joints,
tiny leaf-like growths which seem to interest fish, and it is
believed that they sometimes 'attack' them. There are many
species mostly natives of tropical America, Africa and India.
S. nuians is one of the most grown, having bright green leaves
of which the undersides are covered in brownish hairs.
Stratiotes aloides is a native plant which forms a rosette of
long brittle leaves edged with sharply-pointed teeth. Once
established, it makes a plant of twelve to fifteen inches in dia-
meter. Its common name is the Water Soldier and it seems to
spend quite a lot of time at the bottom of the pool coming to
the surface at various times. One of these is in midsummer,
when it produces its white flowers a few inches above the
water. After flowering, the plants again retire to the bottom
reappearing in August complete with a number of side shoots,
which eventually break off and become separate plants.
Trapa bicornis is an annual which is not hardy in this
country. Sometimes known as Water Chestnuts they have
creeping, floating stems with mottled cut-edged leaves. The
white flowers are inconspicuous but are followed by hard black
seeds the size of chestnuts and these need only be placed in
water to produce fresh plants.
Ulricularia vulgaris is the Common Bladderwort which
floats just under the surface, the tangled stems being equipped
with small bladders. These are designed to trap small insects
which are eventually absorbed by the plant. The clusters of
bright yellow flowers stand out of the water and after the
flowers are over, the tiny bladders fill with water and the plant
sinks to the bottom of the pond.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
