The Water Gardening Idea Book: How to Build, Plant, and Maintain Ponds, Fountains, and Basins by Peter Bisset

Author:Peter Bisset
Format: epub
Publisher: Perseus Books, LLC
Published: 2013-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter XII

MISCELLANEOUS AQUATIC PLANTS

UNDER this head are included all plants that grow entirely submerged—roots, stems, and leaves—also such plants as grow in water but send up stems and leaves above the surface. The former plants are mostly grown in ponds and tanks where fish culture is carried on, as they are useful in keeping the water supplied with oxygen and also give the fish excellent material to spawn on, the eggs adhering to the stems and leaves. They are also grown in aquaria for the same purpose. The others are cultivated for ornamental purposes, many of them having flowers or attractive foliage to recommend them.

Acorus calamus (Sweetflag) grows to a height of two to three feet, and has lance-shaped leaves.

In Acorus calamus variegatus the young leaves are striped with a deep yellow, which fades to a paler color as they get older.

Acorus gramineus grows to a height of from eight to twelve inches, forming a round, grassy tuft.

Acorus gramineus variegatus is a beautiful variegated plant; the leaves are narrow, grasslike and striped with white. All the Acorus grow in shallow water or in damp soil, and are propagated by division of the root in spring or fall.

Anacharis canadensis gigantea (Giant Waterweed) is the finest submerged water plant for the fish culturist, or for the aquarium. It is a rapid growing plant, with dark green linear leaves and brittle stems. It will grow floating on the water or planted in the soil; it is perfectly hardy and a little of it in the pond will be useful as it is an excellent thing for the goldfish to spawn on. Care should be taken however, that it does not get beyond control or it will prove a nuisance.

Aponogeton distachyum (Cape-pondweed) is a very interesting aquatic plant from the Cape of Good Hope. The white flowers are borne on forked spikes and are arranged in pairs. They are very fragrant, having the odor of the Hawthorn. The anthers are purple, the leaves oblong, lanceolate, floating on the surface of the water. This is a fine subject for naturalizing in ponds where it can be planted in water of a depth of two feet and where the water does not freeze over. In the Northern States it is best lifted and carried over the winter in the greenhouse tank where it will flower toward spring and continue blooming for a long period.

Azolla caroliniana is a small, floating moss-like plant, which increases rapidly by self-division. When this plant is exposed to direct sunlight the small leaves take on a reddish tinge. It is useful for the aquarium.

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