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These bladders also form a kind of mouth
into which small organisms venture to their
everlasting regret. Tiny fish fry form part
of the diet of this hungry plant and so it
should be avoided in the breeding tank.
In the winter the bladders fill with water
and the plant sinks to the bottom until the
springtime, when it rises again.
Ranunculus or Water Crowfoot. This is a
delightful pond plant, but unless checked
will overcrowd the water. From May on-
wards a profusion of pale yellow or pinkish-
white flowers, standing several inches above
the water, will give a very pleasing effect.
The flowers are so prolific that, from a distance,
the water looks as though it has been sprinkled
with confetti.
Wort. A pretty plant for
the aquarium is the Horn
Wort and it is valuable in
the pond as a repository
for fish eggs. It is not one
of the best oxygenators,
however.
Ludwigia or Swamp Loose
Strife. Of use only in the
indoor aquarium for de-
coration, a function it fulfills efficiently. The
leaves are broad and pointed at the end ;
with plenty of sunlight, the deep green of these
becomes tinted with crimson.
Marginal Plants
Most of the marginal plants are tall and
grass- or rush-like, many require but a few
inches of water and some will exist in moist
ground alone. They may be obtained either
for the very small pool or for the lake, some
species being a few inches in height, others
may exceed ten feet. To facilitate matters
I am dividing them into three groups, viz.,
the very tall kinds, round about six feet in
height ; the medium kind about two feet
in height ; and the short varieties that raise
their heads a bare foot or so above the
water.
The two first-named types provide the
background ; the last named make the fine
masses and carpets of colour and are the
bedding out plants of the pool.
THE TALL MARGINAL PLANTS
Butomus or Water Gladiola. An invaluable
marginal plant is Butomus for all types of
pond above six feet in
diameter. It grows to
a height of three or four
feet and has clear
green foliage and fine
rose-coloured flowers.
Carex or Sedge Grass.
Carex grows to a
height of about four
feet and almost any
of the sixty or so British
species serve to fill a
corner of the large informal pond. The
brownish seeds are in drooping spikes and are
quite attractive.
Water Iris. The common Water Iris (Iris
pseudacorus) is a fine, bold plant with striking
flowers and well repays cultivation. The
height is about five feet.
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