. Ocean wonders: a companion for the seaside. n the ponds on Staten Island and New Jersey. Myriophyl-lum verticillatum, or whorled water-milfoil, much resemblesthe last-named species, though rather finer, more compact,and rounded; it is not nearly so plentiful. Horn wort {Ceratojphyttum demersum) is much like the 194 THE OCEAN. milfoils, though perhaps of a finer foliage, and grows muchlonger. It is a very desirable plant to have, but is not soeasily found. I have never seen it growing naturally any-where except in the Passaic River near Paterson, JSTew Jer-sey ; but I have understood from Mr.
. Ocean wonders: a companion for the seaside. n the ponds on Staten Island and New Jersey. Myriophyl-lum verticillatum, or whorled water-milfoil, much resemblesthe last-named species, though rather finer, more compact,and rounded; it is not nearly so plentiful. Horn wort {Ceratojphyttum demersum) is much like the 194 THE OCEAN. milfoils, though perhaps of a finer foliage, and grows muchlonger. It is a very desirable plant to have, but is not soeasily found. I have never seen it growing naturally any-where except in the Passaic River near Paterson, JSTew Jer-sey ; but I have understood from Mr. Greenwood, the aqua-rial merchant, that he obtains it in large quantities fromPhiladelphia. Many persons prefer Valisneria spiralis, or tape-grass,to all other plants for aquarial purposes. I like it much, andits growth and habits are very interesting to study. It rarelyfails to take root and thrive in the tank. In the aquarium itis generally propagated by oifshoots, which push forwardamong the pebbles at the bottom of the tank. Perhaps the. Valisnekia spiralis—St a min ate and Pistillate. most interesting feature in this plant is its mode of bears both male and female flowers, which develop fromseparate roots. The solitary female flower is borne on along, spiral-shaped stem, which reaches to the surface of thewater, and there floats until the male flowers, which growon a short, thicker stem, only reaching upward a few inches MARINE AND FRESH-WATER AQUARIA. 195 from the bottom, fall off, rise to tlie surface, and with thediffusion of their pollen fertilize the pistils of the femaleflower. The latter then coils up its long, spiral-like stemand draws itself beneath the water to await maturity, and indue season sows its ripened seeds. This plant is also interest-ing to microscopists, as showing very clearly the circulationof protoplasm within its cells. Ranunculus aquaticus, or water-buttercup, is not wmollyaquatic, but has been used quite extensively for aquarial
Size: 1352px × 1847px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectmarineanimals, bookye
