International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society

Volume 23, Number 1 1st Quarter, 2008 Page 2 The Water Garden Journal Vol. 23, No. 1

In This Issue Page 2 2008 Symposium Information Page 3 Combined Executive Plan Now to Director’s/President’s Comments by Keith & Tish Folsom Attend the Page 5 Extreme Aquatics: Size and Diversity among Wetland Species of Aroids () IWGS 2008 by Deni Bown Page 11 Grower’s Corner , USA by David Curtright Page 12 Lotus Tour of Southern China Symposium by Pat Clifford Page 18 Neglected Aquatics by Rowena Burns July 17, 2008 – July 22, 2008 Page 19 Pest Control in Waterlilies Without Toxic Synthetic Chemicals by Andre Leu Visit the beautiful Page 21 News & Notes Page 22 Book Review: Edible Water Shenandoah Valley and Gardens: Growing Water- for Food and Profit Richmond, Virginia review by Walter Pagels while you meet aquatic Page 24 Society Information aficionados from

IWGS Website around the world, Members Only Page and learn from The members page features exclusive society news, articles and online voting. The member international experts! log on is symposium and the password is virginia. Members will be notified by email whenever this password changes. After logging in, the members only page allows you to select Visit www.iwgs.org the current Journal and it will download in a for more information as it PDF format for viewing. This Journal issue is available online in color for viewing, printing or becomes available about this saving. great opportunity www.iwgs.org Vol. 23, No. 1 The Water Garden Journal Page 3

Combined Executive Director’s/President’s Comments by Keith & Tish Folsom

In our part of the world (Virginia, USA) spring is right wetland plants. We will visit the nursery and around the corner. The signs are everywhere; birds are grounds to learn what is being done with this active, daffodils are peeking through the mulch and best emerging field of wetland preservation. of all our fish are starting to move around the water  Ashland Farm in Ashland, VA is a retailer gardens. They’re not looking for food, but they will be and installer of water gardens and koi ponds in the soon. As our water gardens awaken here, yours in the Richmond area. A longtime player in water southern USA are probably well under way. Our gardening, this stop will give us an opportunity to friends in the southern hemisphere are soon going to see koi, aquatic plants and the retail store. experience a change the opposite way, winter is  Nishikigoi of Niigata in Midlothian, VA is an coming; cool relief is on the way. For some, time to get importer and grower of Japanese koi near moving; others, time to relax a bit. Richmond, VA. Soil pond production and indoor holding facilities at this stop give us a unique look No matter where you are, it’s time to plan for a visit to at high quality koi nestled in a garden setting. our annual symposium for a time of education and  A renowned moss garden owned by Norie networking. I hope your plans will include Virginia Burnet in Richmond, VA is an unusual addition USA, this year’s location of the International Waterlily to our tour. While the focus is on her shady and Water Gardening Society Symposium. Tish and I landscape featuring a fantastic collection of have been hard at work making the arrangements for mosses, the delightful style of Norie Burnet the program that will be held in July. The main includes a small water feature. Showcased by the symposium, July 17-19, 2008 is where you’ll have the likes of the Smithsonian as a garden of high repute, best opportunity to meet the people you have heard this is a little seen garden we are lucky enough to about over the years, some of the legends of our visit. industry. Stay around for the post-symposium, July 20-  Monticello, Charlottesville, VA home of Thomas 22 for more time touring, learning and visiting with Jefferson is in the Blue Ridge Mountains of new and old friends. western Virginia. While not a water garden, Monticello is a must see for a taste of the rich This abbreviated version of the symposium will give history of Virginia. We will tour the home and you an idea of the events planned. immediate grounds of one of the USA history’s most important founding fathers.  Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond,  Private Garden of Rod Wainright in Nellysford, VA showcase acres of gardens including wetland VA is located at the eastern foot of the Blue Ridge and insectivorous areas, a rose garden, formal Mountain in a community of homes built around gardens, a kids garden and a beautiful indoor the Ski Resort of Wintergreen, VA. This garden conservatory with tropical plants and an orchid features a large water garden with a waterfall. collection. The educational center is the location of  On the way from the Wainright Residence we will our main symposium where we will have our take a brief but breathtaking drive along the speakers, auction and banquet. renowned Blue Ridge Parkway along the spine of  Moerings USA, LLC Stevensburg, VA is a state- the Appalachian Mountains on our way to of-the-art aquatic plant production facility Waynesboro, VA. Waynesboro is in the employing Dutch technology for the production Shenandoah Valley where we will be for the system. We’ll visit with Oscar Warmerdam, the remainder of the post-symposium program. owner of Moerings USA and learn about what he is  FiberTech Virginia in Waynesboro, VA is a doing with his aquatic plants as well as a green roof manufacturer of fiberglass garden ponds. This plant production program he has recently begun. quick stop allows us to see how a preformed pond  Meadowview Biological Research Station in is made and the shapes and sizes available. Woodford, VA is a grower and innovator in the Continued, Next page category of insectivorous plants and seepage Page 4 The Water Garden Journal Vol. 23, No. 1

 Springdale Water Gardens in Greenville, VA, seepage fed with groundwater through sandy, low- our symposium host, is a grower and retailer of nutrient soil. The plants found in a seepage wetland aquatic plants and a specialty location dedicated to are diverse. Most people think of carnivorous water gardening. Springdale features six plants, but the diversity is far more complex than greenhouses, outdoor production ponds, a gift and just those plants. supplies store, a fish holding facility, gardens, and  Warner Orozco – Obando Auburn University, even a kids museum. We will enjoy a very special Dept. of Horticulture, Auburn, AL will speak on meal prepared by a local gentleman who the topic of Lotus. He will present several mini- specializes in Dutch Oven cooking. topics, such as: Development of out of season  Grand Caverns and the Living South River production (winter) for the southeast; Edible Lotus Project, Grottoes, VA is another stop to expand - the next frontier; evaluation and your cultural experience while visiting Virginia. description for submission to the Registrar of Lotus We will have a tour of the beautiful caverns and  Craig Presnell – Luster Aquatic Nursery, Zolfo their vast features and structures. Also here is a Springs, FL – “Hybridizing Waterlilies”- Craig regional natural history museum and an exhibit of will talk about his journey into hybridizing and the life of the South River Watershed. The small how he comes up with some of the most interesting museum is part of an educational effort for local hybrids on the market. Craig has a different middle schools to learn the importance of the approach to hybridizing and selection of the wetland habitat using a hands-on wet lab and progeny than others. He’ll show us some of his macro-invertebrate lab. We will have a chance to “creations.” go to the river and explore up close the  Don Bryne – Suwanee Laboratories, Lake City, FL macroinvertebrates that live in the water and why – “New Victoria species from Amazonas, Brasil”- they are important to us as water garden and Don will talk about the search for the new species wetland enthusiasts. of Victoria in the Amazon Rainforest. He will  Private Gardens in the Shenandoah Valley show the plant that was found and will talk about  Virginia Tech Horticulture Gardens located at where it is today. Virginia Polytechnic Institute &State  Danny Benjamin – Hazorea Aquatics, Kibbutz University in Blacksburg, VA features a large Hazorea, Israel – “Plant Production in Israel” - water garden and streambed with waterfalls as part Danny’s presentation will be about the methods of the campus gardens. used in Israel for production of waterlilies. Their  City of Roanoke, VA downtown has a great unique system of harvest and marketing will make display of tropical waterlilies located in a city park. an interesting program. We will make a quick stop in this beautiful and  Sandi Greene, Education Specialist, Headwaters historic city. Soil and Conservation District, Staunton, VA –  TetraPond in Blacksburg, VA is a facility mainly “Macroinvertebrates of the Wetland Habitat” - dedicated to warehousing water garden products Sandi will conduct an educational, hands-on for eastern distribution. We will see presentation about benthic macroinvertebrates, some of the packaging and production of some of indicators of water quality in the stream and river their products before enjoying lunch hosted by the ecosystem. These insects are important because management of TetraPond. some of them are the ones we enjoy and find in our water gardens. We will make a streamside visit to Our educational day speakers: the South River where we will capture, inspect and  Bruce LaPierre – Sitelight, Richmond, VA – release these organisms. This part of the program “Water Garden Lighting”- Bruce will be speaking will be held during the post symposium at Grand about lighting water gardens, waterfalls and Caverns and the Living South River Educational fountains in the landscape. Lighting a water garden Exhibit. enhances an illuminated landscape. There will be some discussion of how to blend landscape lighting Tish and I are very excited to have you all visit with us and water garden lights. here in Virginia. There will be plenty to see and do and  Phil Sheridan - Meadowview Biological Research, the food is great! There may be a few minor additions Woodford, VA – “Seepage Wetland Gardening”- or changes, but I think you get the idea, Virginia is the Phil will present the program about seepage place to be this summer. wetland planting, defined as a wetland that is Vol. 23, No. 1 The Water Garden Journal Page 5

Extreme Aquatics: Size and Diversity among Wetland Species of Aroids (Araceae) Article and photos by Deni Bown

Synopsis The aroid or arum family (Araceae) has 108 genera and around 3,750 species. In recent years two groups of aquatics have had a big impact on family dynamics. Duckweeds (Lemnaceae), which are one of the smallest of all flowering plants, have joined the family, and Acorus has been removed to form a separate family, Acoraceae - although for historical purposes Acorus will be covered in this survey.

Even before these changes, the Araceae was arguably the most diverse family of flowering plants. It is now the most extremely diverse. Species vary enormously in habit, morphology and characteristics. The typical spathe-and-spadix inflorescence is microscopic in duckweeds and a massive 2m (6ft) tall in the titan arum, Amorphophallus titanum. Virtually every known leaf shape occurs in the family, and size ranges from minute to several meters in length. Leaf coloration is also highly varied. A number of species are naturally variegated or have variegated juvenile forms. Not surprisingly, the family is a rich source of ornamentals. Most homes have an aroid: Aglaonema, , Caladium, Syngonium and Philodendron are best selling pot plants, and Cut-away section through the inflorescence of Cryptocoryne the striking waxy of Anthurium and spiralis, showing clusters of female flowers at the base, Zantedeschia are equally popular as cut flowers. males at the top, and a valve-like flap that controls entry and exit of tiny flies, which are imprisoned until pollination has Gardens are rarely without aroids too, especially in taken place. the tropics, where genera such as , , and Monstera are often used for cultivation; new or little-known species with dramatic effect. intriguing adaptations to aquatic existence; and lastly, invasive species. Topics covered include Less well known perhaps is the fact that many ecology, ornamental and other uses (food, aroids are aquatics or helophytes. Some 30 aroid medicine, and raw materials), and special interest genera - over a third of the total – are restricted to wetlands and watercourses. Many are highly groups that symposiasts may contact for more detailed information. specialized, either free-floating or growing in demanding habitats such as seasonal swamps, fast- Extreme Aquatics flowing torrents, and tidal zones. Aquatic aroids The aroid or arum family (Araceae) has 108 genera also come in all shapes and sizes, from miniscule and around 3,750 species, which means that Aroids Wolffia to tree-like . are so diverse that it is difficult to generalize about This introduction to aquatic aroids will highlight them. Botanists and experts can spot them in an instant, but at first glance they can be confusing for three main categories: taxa well-established in the uninitiated. Plants range from tiny floating Page 6 The Water Garden Journal Vol. 23, No. 1 aquatics to gigantic climbers, from bulbous to tree- or have variegated juvenile forms. Not surprisingly, like, and everything in between. One thing they do the family is a rich source of ornamentals. Most have in common though is a spathe-and-spadix homes have an aroid: Aglaonema, Dieffenbachia, inflorescence, so if an aroid is flowering, you stand and Syngonium are best selling pot plants, and the a good chance of recognizing it. The spathe is a striking waxy inflorescences of Anthurium are modified leaf, and the actual flowers are very small familiar as cut flowers. Gardens are rarely without and borne in a cluster called a spadix, which is aroids too, and ornamentals such as the arum or usually poker-shaped. The flowers are either lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) have escaped bisexual or with male and female in separate zones. into the wild and become a weed in many parts of Inflorescences differ greatly in shape and size, and the world. every conceivable variation on the spathe-and- spadix theme is found in the family. Aroids are also In recent years two groups of aquatics have made a highly diverse in pollination mechanisms, fruiting, big impact on family dynamics. Duckweeds were and dispersal. Some of the most ingenious originally in their own family, Lemnaceae, but a tactics are found in aquatic species. few years ago phylogenetic studies showed they do in fact belong to Araceae. Duckweeds may be regarded as weeds by water gardeners but they are nevertheless fascinating. The structure of these tiny flakes of vegetation is the ultimate in miniaturization. You need a magnifying glass or even a microscope to appreciate the details – or take a short cut and visit websites on the subject. In duckweeds the typical spathe-and-spadix inflorescence is highly reduced and so minute that it is scarcely recognizable. At the other extreme, the inflorescence of the titan arum, Amorphophallus titanum, is over 6ft (2m) tall. The other major change to the aroid family is that the Acorus has been removed to form a separate family, Acoraceae. Acorus is well-known to water gardeners, especially in variegated forms of A. calamus and A. gramineus.

Even before these changes, the Araceae was arguably the most diverse family of flowering plants. It is now the most extremely diverse! It is also worth noting that aroids are generally toxic. They contain various acids, acrid compounds, and also mechanical irritants, such as crystals of calcium oxalate. These crystals are often in the form of needles, known as raphides, which are packed in phial-like cells. Be warned, when the Typhonodorum lindleyanum is a tree-sized aquatic aroid, found only in Madagascar and one or two other Indian Ocean islands cells are ruptured by crushing or cutting, the but its closest relative is North American . needles shoot out, and if they lodge in mucous membranes or broken skin, they can cause Virtually every known leaf shape occurs in the considerable discomfort. family, and sizes range from minute to several Helophytes meters in length. Leaf coloration is also highly Helophytes thrive in saturated ground beside varied. A number of species are naturally variegated watercourses, swamps, bogs, marshes and in Vol. 23, No. 1 The Water Garden Journal Page 7 seasonally flooded ground. Though some are flowering, the stems bend down to protect the seasonally dormant, they must have ample moisture develop , and when they are ripe, the green to when in active growth and most are rich feeders. purple-black berries are dispersed into water. Three very hardy helophytic aroids are known as Typhonodorum lindleyanum Surprisingly, this huge skunk cabbages because they have cabbage-like tropical aquatic aroid is closely related to Peltandra and fill the air with a skunk-like smell when but occurs on the other side of world in Madagascar flowering. Symplocarpus foetidus from Eastern and a few other places in the Indian Ocean. It North America produces cowl-shaped produces magnificent white inflorescences, inside inflorescences which are thermogenic. The spadix generates sufficient warmth to melt frozen ground. The heat dissipates the skunky odor and attracts pollinators which enter the spathe to feed on nectar and . They often mate in the floral chamber too, safe and snug while outside temperatures may be subzero. The curious inflorescences are followed by bold but neat foliage. Lysichiton americanus is another North American species. Its inflorescences are bright yellow, and similarly appear in early spring before the leaves. The fruits remain green when ripe and the infructescence simply disintegrates. Some seedlings germinate nearby, forming large colonies, and others are carried some distance by flood water in spring. Lysichiton camtschatcensis, the Eastern skunk cabbage, is separated from its sister species by North Pacific. Where the two are grown close together, hybrids with cream flowers may occur. In my view these are not a patch on the pure white and primary yellow of the sister species, and should be eradicated. All skunk cabbages have massive deep root systems and contractile roots to anchor the heavy plant and keep it bogged down through frost heaving or flooding. They consequently dislike disturbance and do not transplant well, neither do they thrive for long in containers. The roots also contain a cocktail of chemicals which has long made them important in traditional medicine as remedies for bronchial complaints. Montrichardia arborescens is a giant tropical American aquatic. The intensely fragrant inflorescences are followed by yellow fruits Calla palustris is another extremely hardy species, 1.5ins long, known as fruta del diablo ( of the devil) but distributed throughout northern parts of North apparently edible. hemisphere, as far north as the Arctic Circle. It is not closely related to any other aroid. The creeping which you can sometimes find a perfectly rhizomes root in mud or float in shallow water. Attractive red fruits are a feature as the foliage dies camouflaged white frog. Fruiting stems bend down down for winter. towards water, as in Peltandra. Montrichardia arborescens is a common sight occurs in eastern North along waterways in tropical America. It reaches America. The greenish-white spathes hardly open so must be pollinated by very small flies. After 12ft (4m) tall, and bears large, very fragrant Page 8 The Water Garden Journal Vol. 23, No. 1 inflorescences, followed by clusters of golden Another uncommon South American helophyte is yellow fruits. There is a dwarf form found on some Gearum brasiliense, which is found in savannah Caribbean islands that’s good for smaller gardens. regions of central to western . In the dry Montrichardia is an important food plant of the season these areas are very dry indeed, and hoatzin, a primitive bird that clambers among the flowering occurs at ground level when the plant is branches using claws on its wings. dormant. As the rains start and the savannah floods, a solitary leaf with linear leaflets is produced. A less common sight is Dracontioides desciscens which grows in swamps in eastern Brazil. The esculenta, commonly known as or spongy stalks that lift the handsome sagittate leaves eddo, is the staple food of the Hawaiian Islands and are 6ft (2m) long, and the foliage is unusual in widely grown in tropics for its starchy roots. It is having natural holes. This phenomenon, known as grown in flooded fields similar to rice paddies. Genetically it is very variable and may vary greatly in leaf shape and color. such as ‘Illustris’ and ‘Black Knight’ are among the best ornamentals for water gardens. The genus Zantedeschia is from southern , though Z. aethiopica, the hardiest species, has been popular for so long as an ornamental that it is grown and naturalized in most parts of the world, from temperate to tropical. For many years the very hardy ‘Crowborough’ and vigorous ‘Green Goddess’ were the only cultivars, but now there are dwarf selections and some with pink-flushed spathes, such as ‘Pink Mist’, which is very hardy and comes true from seed.

From tropical West Africa is the genus Anubias, which has 8 species, all aquatics. The largest is A. giganteus, known in the aquatic plant trade as ‘Congo Sword’. It has elegant inflorescences as well as handsome foliage. The commonest is A. barteri, a small variable species which is ideal for fish tanks. Many new aroid species – and even genera – have been discovered in recent years, especially in Southeast Asia. Though some are of little ornamental value, others such as Homalomena expedita are promising. This species, found in deep yellow mud along ditches in a small kampong in Anubias giganteus belongs to a small West African genus of Lundu, Sarawak, was described for the first time in about 8 species that all occur in forest swamps or streams and 2002. rivers. Rheophytes The word rheophyte means ‘lover of the current.’ fenestration, is extremely unusual. It occurs in Rheophytes are ‘superaquatics’ thriving in many aroids but elsewhere in the plant world it is waterfalls and fast-flowing rivers and streams in recorded only in the genus Pentagonia (Rubiaceae) which currents often exceed 6ft (2m) per second. and in one species of Aponogeton. To stand up to such a battering, they have narrow, flexible, fish-shaped – literally stream-lined – Vol. 23, No. 1 The Water Garden Journal Page 9 foliage. Another essential is a large tenacious root seen in cultivation. Some have long curly-tailed system that can cling to rocks or deeply penetrate spathes (as in Cryptocoryne crispatula var. mud or river sand. Most rheophytic aroids occur in crispatula from tributaries of the Mekong in Southeast Asia. There are six wholly rheophytic southern Thailand) or are quite colorful as in C. small genera – Aridarum, Bucephalandra, lingua. All have intricate floral parts, which can be Heteroaridarum, Hottarum, Phymatarum, and appreciated when the wall of the spathe chamber or Piptospatha. The largest is Piptospatha, with about “kettle” is cut away. Fruits of crypts are also a dozen species. Two of the most ornamental are interesting and different from other aroids in that Piptospatha ridleyi, which is naturally variegated, they split open into five segments when ripe. and Piptospatha grabowskii, which produces pretty Another interesting feature in some species is that pink spathes and has a recently discovered the foliage changes shape during the growing variegated form. season, becoming reed-like (filiform or terete) when water levels fall, as seen in C. retrospiralis. Rheophytic species occur in other genera too. Unusually, one is a climber. beccarii occurs in Borneo, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand. It could be an interesting subject for boulders in fast-flowing water. For some unknown reason, rheophytic aroids are almost unknown in tropical America. One of the few is Philodendron flumineum from central Brazil.

True Aquatics True aquatics grow either underwater – submersed, or partly underwater - emersed. Most aquatic aroids pay close attention to weather forecasts and phases of the moon, timing flowering to coincide with dry periods and low water levels. Orontium aquaticum is closely related to skunk cabbages. Like them it is extremely hardy and early flowering, so is another real joy of spring in the temperate water garden. Unlike them, it must have shallow water and is not happy as a marginal. The inflorescences stand above water and lack a spathe, or rather it is reduced to a tiny scale.

Cryptocoryne is a large genus of around 60 species Both leaves and inflorescences of water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) are covered in dense water-repellent hairs, of highly specialized aquatics, many of which are making it totally unsinkable. the mainstay of the aquarium plant trade. Some species are very variable, with distinct clones Many species of Cryptocoryne are rare or according to habitat. For this reason they have been endangered. Having very restricted distributions, described as the Darwin’s finches of Araceae. Many they are especially vulnerable to pollution and loss are difficult to cultivate; the easiest being those that of habitat. Crypts also tend to live in areas that are tolerate calcium. Favorites for ornamental purposes difficult to access – for botanists at least – and for have wavy, crinkled or puckered leaves or attractive this reason are poorly known. Some are even quite red, purple or bronze coloration. Less obvious are common in the trade but little understood the intriguing inflorescences but as they are only scientifically. An example is C. crispatula var. produced when water levels drop, they are seldom Page 10 The Water Garden Journal Vol. 23, No. 1 tonkinensis, often exported from Thailand but its delicate drifter is exquisite. En masse it has a actual origin has never been recorded. significant effect on ecology of river systems and is a serious weed of waterways in many parts of the The largest species in the genus is also the odd man tropics. In addition to spreading by seed, it is out. Cryptocoryne ciliata reaches 3ft (1m) tall, is stoloniferous, producing plantlets ad infinitum. very widely distributed, easy to grow, and can grow either submersed or as a marginal - the reason being Duckweeds such as Lemna aequinoctialis have that it thrives in river estuaries and tidal mud flats, taken things a step further still. They have mastered often in association with Nypa palms and surface tension by becoming so small that they coat mangroves. The elaborate fringing round the spathe the surface like a second skin. Some have air-filled limb probably helps disperse odor to attract cells to maintain buoyancy. Others, amazingly, float pollinators. In common with other aroids of tidal just beneath the surface. How on earth, or rather on zones, C. ciliata produces relatively large that water, do they do that? Even more amazing is the germinate before leaving the plant. When released fact that duckweeds bloom and produce seed. The from their protective sac, these viviparous seedlings microscopic bisexual flowers have no sepals or spread their tuft of juvenile leaflets like little petals and merely protrude above the surface. They underwater parachutes, enabling them to lodge produce nectar and spiny pollen, just like any easily and develop rapidly in highly unstable regular flower, and insects can be seen landing on surroundings. these mats of floating vegetation. So next time you The same disparity between tropical Asia and tropical America in rheophytic aroids also happens with submersed aquatics. The New World tropics have hardly any. Jasarum steyermarkii, first described in 1977, is one of the few, if not the only true aquatic aroid in tropical America. It occurs in acidic black water river systems in both and , and is closely related to Caladium. The elegant inflorescences are about 6in (15cm) long.

Floating aquatics Simply floating along on the surface of the water Piptospatha ridleyi is a rheophytic aroid that grows in fast- would seem to be the easiest option, instead of flowing streams and waterfalls in the Malay Peninsula. struggling against currents, floods and tides. The clear the duckweed or water lettuce from your fact that very few flowering plants manage to do pond, take a closer look. Aroids rule the waves! this indicates that it’s a very tricky situation. Step one is to find the delicate balance between being They are beyond doubt the most extreme aquatics of all and belong to the most diverse family of sunk by waves and rain, or blowing away when the flowering plants on the planet. wind gets up. This in itself needs some clever engineering. Step two is the challenge faced by all Editor’s Note: This information is from another flowering plants that are true aquatics – how to great program that you missed by not attending the keep pollen and pollinating insect visitors dry when 2007 Symposium. there is water, water, everywhere. © Deni Bown 2007. Photos are from Aroids – Pistia stratiotes or water lettuce has solved these Plants of the Arum Family by Deni Bown (Timber problems by having spongy, densely hairy, totally Press 2000, ISBN 0-88192-485-7, $34.95). Chapter water repellent foliage, and long feathery roots that Four, Aquatics and Amphibians, is devoted to serve as a keel. These adaptations make the plant wetland aroids. unsinkable. Its tiny inflorescences, daringly produced at water level, are protected by a raincoat [email protected] of dense hairs as well. Seen closely, this deceptively Vol. 23, No. 1 The Water Garden Journal Page 11

Growers Corner by David Curtright

Pontederia sagittata areas and deserts available to us. After nearly 30 years in the pond business in this county, I have Two of the great and obvious advantages of access to ponds all over the place, and can test attending conventions are that you get to meet plants in various climates. people of common interest, and that you run into opportunities that you would have missed had you Planted in my soil, augmented with two 12-8-8 stayed at home. One of the great things about going Grow-Power tablets, in two or three gallon pots, P. to in 2006 to attend the IWGS Seminar, and sagittata will grow to about 30 inches in height. A there were many, was meeting Dr. Barre Hellquist, single plant will fill the pot within six weeks. Its the pre-eminent botanist and member of the IWGS. leaves are of normal size for a Pontederia, and are very deeply lobed. The flowers are of a form typical At some point during our conversation, we to the genus, but are more densely packed than are discussed Pontederia, Eichhornia, and related those of P. cordata, and are pink with a slight hint genera, and it came out that he had a species of of lavender. The flower heads are thick and robust Pontederia (P. sagittata) that he had collected as when they are fully open, and mixing them with seed in Mexico. He described it as having pink other colors of Pontederia creates a lovely effect as flowers, and a deeply lobed leaf, and said that it was a marginal planting or as a centerpiece. It will grow growing in his greenhouse in Massachusetts. I had with equal ease in water only a few inches deep or mentioned the need for a truly pink Pickerel in the as deep as a foot over the top of the pot. They hobby and asked him if I might get a piece of it. He become floppy when the water is deeper than that. agreed to send me one and the conversation moved on to other topics. I had most of my plants in their respective growing places by early June. They all did well right away, A short time later I got a package in the mail from producing profusions of large, deep green leaves Dr. Hellquist. I opened it to find not one, but 6 and those lusty flowers. There has been no healthy plants, which I immediately moved out to difference in how they have grown, regardless of my yard. I put them into one gallon pots with good where they are, and in all instances, they have soil and gave them a tank in a cold frame. By the performed wonderfully. As with all Pontederias, it end of the season I had six very crowded pots, is good to keep them clear of dead flowers and which I moved into my warm greenhouse to be leaves to keep them looking their best. One certain of keeping them alive over winter. This difference between this and other species within the turned out to be a good move because we had such genus is the persistence of the leaves. P. cordata a cold winter that I am sure that I would have lost leaves come off easily with a quick jerk opposite them if I had left them outside. the direction of growth, but these do not and must be cut until they are quite rotted. Most of my plants Last spring I moved them into several of the ponds continued to bloom until well into December, and that I take care of in various places around the have maintained foliage through our admittedly county. Here in San Diego County in , mild winter. USA, we have many micro-climes to grow plants in. We have coastal hills and valleys, which are It is almost a foregone conclusion that this plant always mild enough for most plants. There is the will enjoy a bright future in our hobby and that for inland area, which is predominately a short, dense growers it represents a plant of great promise. forest of drought-tolerant, fire-dependent shrubs, or “chaparral,” that tolerate hot, dry summers and [email protected] cool, moist winters. We also have mountainous Page 12 The Water Garden Journal Vol. 23, No. 1

Lotus Tour of Southern China, Yunnan Excerpts from a Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh Report by Pat Clifford Tour Organizer Grant Mitchell

Being truthful this was the part of the journey that filled me with trepidation but also excitement and with this in mind I flew from Bangkok to Kunming on Monday 23rd July, 2007. Fortunately I met up with the rest of the party at the Symposium who were also going on to China, so this helped, and we made it safely and uneventfully to Kunming; well apart from one of the group who had problems at immigration because the Chinese authorities had never seen a Costa Rican passport, but this was soon sorted out when he pointed out he had American citizenship.

It was a really mixed group and the whole experience benefited from this.

Figure 1 The Lotus Crew

Back row. Myself, Botanical Background; Walter Pagels, World Renowned Aquatic Specialist, California, USA. Middle row. Nola and Michael Fenech, Commercial Growers, NSW, Australia; Margaret Nichols, Commercial Grower, , USA; The owner of the Guest-house; Pam Shaw, Artist, California, USA/India; Grant Mitchell, Tour Organizer and World Authority on Nelumbo nucifera, NSW, Australia; Daughter of the Guest-house owner. Front Row. Dan Schreiber, Ethno-Botanist, Queensland, Australia; Warner Orozco, PhD Student, Auburn University, Alabama, USA.

As you can see it was quite an eclectic mixture, with one thing in common - ‘The Sacred Lotus’ - and with such a small group everyone soon got to know each other and got on really well. Vol. 23, No. 1 The Water Garden Journal Page 13

Kunming The first day was spent at a leisurely pace because of the altitude difference; Kunming is 1,800M above sea-level and we walked to the fabulous Cui Lake Park. This is in the heart of the city and had some massive lakes which were filled with Nelumbo and Nymphaea cultivars and all around the park local women were dancing in large groups to many different styles of music emanating from large Ghetto-Blasters. In the quieter areas of the park the older generation were practicing the ancient art of Tai Chi amidst some beautiful Lagerstroemia indica, which were in full bloom. Unbelievably we were to visit Kunming during the wettest spell anyone can remember; apparently it Figure 2 Tai-Chi rained practically non-stop for twenty-two days. Kunming is known as the city of ‘Eternal Spring.’ It had certainly sprung a leak when we were there.

Figure 3 Lagerstroemia indica Page 14 The Water Garden Journal Vol. 23, No. 1

Sha Ping and Strange Dragon Lake This trip promised to be truly authentic and if anyone was still in doubt the bus trip into the countryside proved it. No luxury hired coach for us, oh no - public transport Chinese style - what an experience. Being 6’ 4’’ tall it was no fun being squeezed into a seat for six hours that was designed for the average Chinese man, and sharing the bus with live chickens and locals who continually ate boiled eggs certainly added flavor.

Figure 4 The Bus from Hell

I should add here that finding out any actual facts and figures relating to the places in the rural areas we visited was nigh on impossible. Although our guide was fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese he had spent most of his time in Kunming where the dialect of the city is completely different from the outlying areas, so although we had no problems in finding out the basics, trying to get in-depth information was difficult. This only added to the excitement of the trip however though as there was always this air of uncertainty and the feeling we were going places not many westerners had been before us.

After a rather circuitous route through the beautiful countryside we arrived in the small but rapidly expanding city of Sha Ping. We were staying in a government hotel where we were awoken at 6 a.m. with stirring martial music which was supposed to set us up for the day; personally I’d rather have been woken more serenely. I decided to stand outside the hotel which was situated on a roundabout and have a smoke but quickly realized that I was going to cause an accident because everyone was swerving and slowing to have a look. My appearance was so alien to the locals, and I suddenly realized I’d finally arrived in ‘China’. From then on I was constantly being scrutinized, but far from being disconcerting it was actually quite nice and although the people Vol. 23, No. 1 The Water Garden Journal Page 15 were naturally curious they were ever so friendly. The small children were the best though and the look of bemusement on their faces was a joy to behold. We took some taxis the next day to ‘Strange Dragon Lake’ where there were many varieties of Nelumbo growing naturally and we hired a small boat and spent the day right amongst the Lotus taking loads of pictures and just soaking up the amazing feeling that was created being surrounded by this truly wondrous plant. That evening we had dinner on the lake which was prepared by the boatman using only ingredients from the Lake and its environs. I’m usually quite conservative in my eating habits but on this trip you had to eat what you were given and because of this, I tried many dishes throughout the journey that I wouldn’t have dreamt of touching in my wildest dreams. Admittedly some were awful but some were lovely and I’d like to think that since returning I’m not so fussy and would at least try most things once, another little character building episode. Of course every meal we ate included some part of the Nelumbo and now I must have eaten every part of the Lotus cooked in every conceivable way, and an unbelievably versatile plant this proves to be. ‘Lakes Abounding With Fish and Shrimp’ We left Sha Ping aboard another coach bound for our next destination which was a small Shanni minority village on the shores of one of the lakes. This was situated 150 miles South of Sha Ping and was set in the midst of the ‘Witches Hat Mountains’ and was truly the most breathtaking scenery I have had the pleasure of visiting. I thought my camera was going to go into meltdown.

There we stayed in a typical Chinese guesthouse that Grant our guide had stayed in frequently over the years. He told us how about twelve years before he had travelled alone to this region from Kunming in search of these lakes someone had told him about, and he literally stumbled upon this village and as a traveler was befriended by this family. He had returned regularly but it had been three years since his last visit and he was welcomed like the long lost friend he was. He was saddened to learn of the death of the old grandmother whom he had told us so much about, and wanted us to meet. My room looked out onto one of the sixteen lakes this area has become famous for and I could practically pick Lotus flowers from my window. This place was so idyllic and peaceful that we were woken in the morning by the cock crowing at daybreak, far more civilized than the music in Sha Figure 5 Tour Boat Ping. All the meals were prepared and eaten in the courtyard and it felt like we had been transported back in time. Page 16 The Water Garden Journal Vol. 23, No. 1

Over the years as China has changed politically and economically this tranquil part of the world has unfortunately been a victim of the surge in internal Chinese tourism. Every weekend thousands of the more affluent city-dwellers from Kunming descend on the area and turn it into a huge water playground. This has happened in the last five years and the village we were staying in has been earmarked for demolition to make way for a massive tourist resort. Sadly the villagers have no idea what will become of them, particularly as they are a minority group which has not Figure 6 View from my window fared very well under the Chinese government. Early next morning after our usual breakfast of noodles we headed for the main lake where the tourist boats were moored. Regrettably it was a Saturday morning and the throngs of tourists had begun to arrive and were arming themselves suitably. Here I have to explain what the Chinese tourists use these beautiful lakes for.

Figure 7 Chinese having "Fun" They come down from the city in all shapes and sizes, ranging from groups of young men to large family groups including grandparents and they take to the water with the sole aim of soaking anyone they can. They all dress Vol. 23, No. 1 The Water Garden Journal Page 17 in full waterproof clothing and arm themselves with pots and pans, bamboo water cannons and high powered water blasters. This pastime has really taken off in the last few years and Grant was shocked to see what had happened to the place he loved.

Figure 8 How to "behave" on the lake

He decided that our best plan of action was to act completely passive, and this coupled with lots of warnings shouted in Chinese saved us from a soaking. We were the only Westerners on the lakes and the Chinese thought it was really funny, this white guy shouting abuse at them in a broad Kunming accent. It was a bit of a shame, but we just paddled clear of the main war-zones and took in the wonderful scenery and Lotus fields. We spent about six hours on the lake then climbed one of the ‘Witches Hats’ to get an awe-inspiring view of the Lake system and the surrounding landscape. The hike to the top of the hill certainly wasn’t easy and Walter, who is 82 years old, put me to shame. He and Dan had already climbed one before breakfast to see the sunrise. On the return journey the boatman dropped us off right at our guesthouse which backed onto the lake.

That evening we were treated to some entertainment which was provided by the villagers and featured traditional Shanni music and dance. It was really enjoyable but also a bit sad as we were watching something that was rapidly dying out. The next morning was spent wandering through the Lotus lakes and surrounding countryside where the farmers were mainly growing corn, tobacco, chilies, rice and of course Lotus. Many were still using water buffalo as a means of transport and harvesting their crops using sickles. Then it was time to get on the dreaded coach, which I was starting to enjoy in some masochistic way, and return to Kunming. Great credit must go to Grant Mitchell for organizing this exceptional trip as I don’t think anyone else could have pulled it off and I only hope I will be able to join him on another trip in the future. Cheers Grant! [email protected] Page 18 The Water Garden Journal Vol. 23, No. 1

Neglected Aquatics by Rowena Burns

Lavender Musk M. cardinalis, with bright scarlet flowers. These Mimulus, and most others, like to be very wet rather One cheery, little-appreciated plant that produces a than underwater, though if placed in a stream showy mass of blue/purple flowers in summer is environment with moving, oxygenated water Lavender Musk or Mimulus ringens. Blue is a color passing their roots, often do very well. One notable unusual in the water garden - as it is in the dry-land bright scarlet annual hybrid - M. ‘Lothian Fire’ - garden. Also known as Monkey Flower, Square- looks spectacular in a stream. A good start when stemmed Monkey Flower and Allegheny Monkey looking for pictures is http://plants.usda.gov. Flower, M. ringens is actually native to Eastern North America and quite widespread in distribution. Pond owners often overlook Lavender Musk, since it is not blooming in spring when most people shop for new plants. Many of the plants I have seen offered for sale are a washed-out blue – a very unexciting flower – however, there is a wide range of colors available from almost white to mauve to lavender to purple. The richest colors are really vivid and make a great display. Flowers may begin appearing on the tall stems as early as June, and keep blooming abundantly throughout much of the summer, gradually emerging higher on the plant. Hummingbirds and butterflies sometimes visit the showy one inch flowers. Most Mimulus species like lots of moisture, but Mimulus ringens is one of the most truly aquatic - it can be grown in very moist soil or up to 2” over the crown (possibly a little deeper too, e.g. 4”/10cm). Late in fall, you will find spiky offsets forming, which will form new plants in the spring. The stems Mimulus ringens is a member of the snapdragon will grow one to three feet in height, with pointed, family, which is evident from the flower. Some serrated leaves about two inches long clasping the mistake it for a mint, due to the square stem; stalk in pairs. It doesn’t take long to get a big however, it is quickly obvious from the lack of flowering clump – but be cautious in planting at the scent that this is not in the mint family. The flowers side of a large pond, since it has the potential to have a yellow or white center, which is sometimes multiply extensively. brightly contrasting to the lavender flower. Ideally, the plant grows best and the flowers are most vivid Monkey flower, in fact, is used as a name for many in partly shaded locations, however, the plant will Mimulus species and hybrids - their flowers are bloom in full sun and also very shady areas. supposed to resemble the face of a laughing monkey. While M. ringens is the hardiest of the For an easy-care marginal water plant, Lavender Mimulus, able to grow from Texas to northern Musk can’t be surpassed. This is definitely a worthy (USDA Zone 3-9), there are two other addition to the marginal shelf in your pond. North American natives worthy of use in the water garden: M. guttatus, the yellow monkey flower, and [email protected] Vol. 23, No. 1 The Water Garden Journal Page 19

Pest Control in Waterlilies without Toxic Synthetic Chemicals byAndre Leu

This is the first part of a series of articles that will Avoid calendar spraying such as weekly or look at the many techniques that can be used to fortnightly etc. This can result in spraying when control pests and diseases in water plants without there are no pests and not spraying when there are using synthetic pesticides. pests. Always monitor and check pest levels before deciding on the appropriate control strategy. I often Non-Residual Natural Sprays find after monitoring pest numbers following a Spraying pesticides and fungicides should be spray application, that another spray two days later regarded as the tools of last resort. Ideally a good will give excellent pest control. gardener tries to avoid pests by having healthy The only time it is useful to apply pesticides and fertile soil/potting medium and good biodiversity. fungicides on a regular cyclical basis is when this is However there are certain pests that can based on known life cycles. This timing should be periodically cause major damage if they are not usually based on the period after eggs hatch to controlled at critical times. before they are mature enough to reproduce. Three Constant monitoring and timely action can control of these life cycles are usually sufficient to these before they increase into a significant significantly disrupt the breeding cycle of most problem. pests. Monitoring and Only Spraying Hot Spots Spray Rates Many natural sprays are broad spectrum, killing Always do a small mix of a few liters/pints and do both pest and beneficial species. The best approach trial spraying with a backpack. This is to assess the is to avoid complete cover sprays of the water efficacy and also if the spray damages the plant. plants, unless using a spray that only targets a Some water plants like lotus leaves are easily specific pest such as Bacillus thuringiensis. damaged by sprays. It is pointless to spray the plants if the spray has no effect on the pest or When using broad spectrum sprays such as natural disease or if the spray damages the plant. Test more pyrethrum, potassium soaps, diatomaceous earth or than one area. Do a few replicates of both the test vegetable oils, monitor the plants and establish the spray sites and controls (areas with no spray) so that areas that have the highest numbers of the pest. you can accurately compare results. It is best to start These areas are the ‘Hot Spots.’ Only spray the hot with weaker mixtures and gradually strengthen spots. This allows the beneficial species to survive them to the point where they are effective in in the rest of the crop and they will help to give controlling the pest but not harming the crop. good control. Record your results so that you can refer back to Killing all the beneficial species can lead to an them next time. This is good practice for all sprays, including those that are mixed up and applied per increase in the pests and also allow new pests to get the label. established. One of the important differences between natural insecticides and most synthetic Examples of Effective Sprays pesticides is that most natural formulations biodegrade within 24 hours or become plant Biologicals nutrients. Biological sprays are derived from natural organisms. Many people have failures with The lack of persistence means that they need to be biologicals, due to not realizing that they are applied more often. Monitoring is crucial to dealing with living organisms rather than a determine the best time and places to spray. chemical. Biologicals need to live in suitable Page 20 The Water Garden Journal Vol. 23, No. 1 conditions to be effective. It is important to Non-Toxic Sprays understand these requirements otherwise they die soon after application and are useless. Emulsified Vegetable Oils are very effective at killing all arthropods (insects and related species). This is one of the fundamental reasons why the These work by clogging the breathing pores so that results of biological products can be unreliable. they suffocate. It is important to ensure complete They can work exceptionally well in some trials and coverage of the pest species. have no effect in others. Natural Soap Sprays such as potassium soaps kill As an example: Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki insects by dissolving the outer cuticle and also by (BT) is very effective in the control of caterpillars clogging the breathing pores. on waterlily leaves. Clays, Flour and water. These types of sprays It is most effective when the caterpillars are in the work by clogging up the breathing pores. early stages of growth. It works only when the caterpillar ingests the living bacteria. These bacteria Diatomaceous Earth. This works by both clogging make sharp protein crystals called lectins that up the breathing pores and the fine silica sharps destroy the digestive system of the pest. The pests shred the joints of the pests. immediately stop feeding and die over a few days. These types of sprays are non-specific and will kill BT is killed by ultraviolet light. Spraying it out in beneficials so they should only be used on ‘Hot the morning or middle of the day can kill it before it Spots.’ The oils and soaps can also burn leaves if has a chance to work. It is important to spray in the used at strong rates so it is important to do test late afternoon or early evening so that it can work sprays first, especially on lotus. all night. It will die in the sunlight of the following day. The product is sold as a dormant spore. It is Toxic Natural Sprays best to culture this for several hours to break the Natural Pyrethrum is very effective for every dormancy and get the spores to grow and multiply pest, as at this stage no insect has developed as active bacteria. This increases the odds of resistance to it. This is because it is a natural caterpillars eating the BT. extraction of a mixture of different pyrethrums, with every batch having different combinations. Just mixing the spore powder with water and This means if an insect pest begins to develop spraying will mean that it will take several hours resistance against one batch, the following year’s after spraying before any bacteria will become batch of natural pyrethrum will be different enough active. By the time the numbers of bacteria are to ensure that the pests have no resistance to it. multiplying they will be killed by the morning sun. Pyrethrum is a nerve poison and has caused The most effective method is to mix the spore blindness in people who have been exposed to it. It powder in milk or a diluted water and molasses mix is highly toxic to all cold-blooded animals, and leave in a shaded area for a few hours. The especially fish and frogs, so it must be used with cultured mix is later added to bonding agent such as care. It completely breaks down in four hours in an emulsified vegetable oil. The oil will ensure the warm-blooded animals and in 24 hours in the droplets will stick to the leaves of the plants when natural environment leaving no toxic residue. sprayed. Rotenone – Derris Dust. This is a very toxic and Effective Rates: effective nerve poison for all species especially cold Five gms of BT mixed with 25 mls of molasses and blooded animals such as insects, fish and frogs. two liters of water for two to three hours. Ten mls Like natural pyrethrum it completely breaks down of an emulsified vegetable oil (Spray-tech Oil, in a few hours in warm-blooded animals and in 24 Synetrol Oil, Eco Oil) is then blended into this. This hours in the natural environment. will make five to ten liters of spray. Vol. 23, No. 1 The Water Garden Journal Page 21

Eucalyptus Oil is highly toxic. As little as a IWGS Happenings teaspoon can kill a child. Used correctly it makes a very effective insecticide. 2009 Symposium All of these insecticides work by contact with the insects. Mixing them with soaps ensures they work The BOD, after much discussion, has announced that more effectively as the soap dissolves the outer the 2009 IWGS Symposium will be hosted by Greg cuticle of insects allowing the toxin to penetrate Wittstock of Aquascapes Inc. (formerly ADI) from more effectively. Chicago, IL, USA, with Jim Wullschleger of AI being the point man on the initial phase of the When the soap and toxin mixture is combined with Symposium. the vegetable oil bonding agent they are even more effective. The oils ensure the spray droplets stick to Plans are already being made for this interesting the pest. Also the oils can smother the pests and the Symposium, so if you want your ideas to be a part soap damages the cuticle, giving three modes of of it, please contact the IWGS office. action. Also, 2010 is scheduled to be an international year, Never use these types of sprays as cover sprays as so the BOD is exploring sites for the 2010 IWGS they are highly toxic and disruptive to beneficial Symposium as well. predators. They should be restricted to ‘Hot Spot’ spraying. Newsletter Competition

Repellents Cathy Green has announced that the Newsletter Several compounds have been shown to work Competition entry date has been extended to October effectively by repelling rather than killing the pests. 10, 2008. Please send three samples from the year These have major advantages as they protect the 2007 of your e newsletter to [email protected]. More crop without killing the beneficials. information is available on www.iwgs.org, then go to: activities-e newsletter contest. Examples of these are garlic, chili, tea tree oil, lavender oil and citronella oil (this oil can also attract some species like fruit flies due to the News & Notes eugenol content). Editor’s Note: Excerpt from Registrar Letter Received I want to thank Andre Leu for volunteering to write I am pleased to tell you that at its meeting in this interesting column. Wageningen, The Netherlands on 16 October 2007 the International Society for Horticultural Science The following areas will be covered in future Commission approved the reappointment of the issues: IWGS as the International Cultivar Registration Authority for the family Nymphaeaceae for further 1. Non-residual natural sprays four years. On behalf of the Commission can I take 2. Modifying environment to add more this opportunity to thank you for the good work you predators have done in this role and to say that we look 3. Diversionary feeding and trapping pests forward to following further progress in your 4. Improving plant health annual reports. Dr. A.C. Leslie [email protected] Secretary ISHS Commission for Nomenclature and Cultivar Registration Page 22 The Water Garden Journal Vol. 23, No. 1

Book Review Edible Water Gardens: Growing Water-Plants for Food and Profit by Nick Romanowski Published in Australia in 2007 by Hyland House Publishing Pty Ltd Reviewed by Walter Pagels

The title of this book may not seem to be a subject of interest to most of the readers of this Journal; nonetheless, it is known that aquatic plants were originally of interest to mankind primarily as a possible source of food. Some of our longtime readers of the Water Garden Journal will remember the article*: 'Aquatic Plants as Food, Medicine and Fiber' written by Peter Slocum in which he said "I would believe that we would enjoy knowing a little more about what some of the water plants we commonly cultivate have meant to generations past." This book Edible Water Gardens: Growing Water-Plants for Food and Profit is the first complete worldwide guide of aquatic plants that are or have been grown or collected for food. It was written by an author with over 30 years experience in aquatic culture and contains 147 pages and a like number of color photographs. The first chapter covers the general requirements of all aquatic plants. This considers the ecological requirements of each plant including water hardness, temperature, and conditions of potential hydrogen ion concentration (pH). In the discussion of aquatic fertilizers the author compares the relative merits of synthetic fertilizers (made from inorganic chemicals) with natural fertilizers (composted manure with blood and bone meal). He concludes that for aquatic plants natural fertilizers have an advantage over synthetic fertilizers. An experiment on how to prove this for yourself is given. The book has special chapters on the plants that can be most efficiently raised in various fresh water environments: deep ponds, shallow ponds, waterlogged soils, and seasonal wetlands. An example of a temperate seasonal wetland is land that is flooded in the spring but dries out in the summer. Each chapter contains photographs of individual plants along with landscapes that contain them. Aseparate chapter is devoted to our favorite plant families, the Nelumbonaceae (Lotus) and Nymphaeaceae (waterlily). Virtually all parts of the lotus are edible and the cut flowers are popular all over the Far East. Although waterlilies are not as popular as food, they can be grown for cut flowers. The author acknowledges that a disturbing trait ofhardy waterlilies is that the flowers have a habit of closing at night. To overcome this he recommends a preparation method that will cause a flower bud to "open in the dark and remain open for days." This is an improvement over the traditional waxed flower method** usually described. The book has a separate chapter to include the rare aquatic plants that had been eaten in at least some part of the world. These include Water Parsnip, the leaves cooked as a vegetable in Italy; Pond Apple, a fruit made into jellies and wine in South America; Swamp Millet, the young tops being cut off and eaten raw in southern Asia; and mint leaves used around the world for flavoring. This chapter describes over 60 plant species with 45 of them illustrated. Some of these plants have fallen out of favor because they require special treatment to remove toxins or are not particularly flavorful when compared to alternative foods now available. These plants were included for the sake of completeness. Some of the aquatic plants included in the book have uses other than as food for human consumption. Just as corn is often grown for food, fuel or animal feed, the same is true for some aquatic plant products. One plant that water gardeners consider a noxious weed is Azolla, called Mosquito Fern in Australia but more graciously known as Fairy Moss in the USA and England. Azolla accommodates a symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacterium which converts nitrogen from the air into a fertilizer that higher plants can assimilate directly. Consequently, all Azolla species can be used for fertilizing taro and rice fields or used as a weed-free mulch on terrestrial plant beds. Vol. 23, No. 1 The Water Garden Journal Page 23

Duckweeds are food raised primarily for livestock (cattle, pigs and poultry). These plants grow so quickly they can be harvested every three to four days (I saw them listed in a USA catalog for $80 a bushel). However, Wolffia species, known as 'khai-nam' in Asia, is grown for human consumption in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh. This plant yields around 20% protein by dry weight. This should be a winner for vegetarians. Most books on aquaculture concentrate on the raising of fish and other aquatic animals, with barely any discussion of edible aquatic plants. This book considers the possibility of harvesting plants as food from the same waters as used for fish culture. With proper choice of plant and fish species, both could be raised together, where the waste products from the fish fertilize the plants. This is already similar to what some pond keepers do for their garden ponds to keep the pond healthy.

Because the science of plant biology is continually evolving with the revisions of scientific nomenclature, the author uses the second edition (1997) of The Plant Book: A Portable Dictionary of the Vascular Plants by D. Mabberley as a basic reference. Therefore, if you are astounded (as I was) by reading that the common North American species Azolla filiculoides is a synonym of A. mexicana, A. microphylla, and A. caroliniana, you are seeing a sampling of the nomenclature war between the splitters and the lumpers. The book lists approximately 280 reference books and articles. For anyone wishing to pursue further reading on a particular plant, he/she will find a separate index for all the references containing information about the plant. You do not have to search though the hundreds of references and try to interpret the title to determine the contents. To keep the reader from running to the dictionary for botanical definitions, the author provides a short glossary in the back pages.

In conclusion, I recommend this book for its overall information on the growth and propagation of all aquatic plants for food or water gardening.

* Slocum, Peter D. (1989) 'Aquatic Plants as Food, Medicine and Fiber'. Water Garden Journal V(3):8-16 **Fairbanks, D. C. (1932) 'Keeping the Water-lilyAwake'. Missouri Botanical Garden Bulletin XX(7):99-101

Commentary In the history of mankind it is generally agreed that civilization began when we started to grow plants for food rather than searching for them. The profit part came when civilization allowed a division of labor into many sectors allowing plant growers to concentrate on their specialty and make enough extra for trade or sale to secure the other necessities of life. Depending on what part of the world where anytribe of people found themselves, the kind of food raised depended upon the climate and terrain upon where they lived. Therefore, it is not strange that in some parts of the world the majority of food plants grew on land saturated with water while other parts concentrated on terrestrial plants. In the more recent centuries, as civilization spread over the world, mankind often found it easier (and more profitable) to carry along their traditional farming methods to the new land rather than adapt to the environment. This was done by modifying the land: if too dry, add water (irrigation), if too wet, remove water (drainage canals). As time went on, it was determined that this was not ecologically correct. The overuse of irrigation on dry land caused the deposit of minerals poisonous to plants, and the removal of water from wetlands caused a lowering of ground water which caused a shortage of water to cities or an infiltration of salt water from the ocean. In many cases, governments are seeing the error of these ways and attempting to return the altered land into its original state. This calls for some innovation in agriculture on how to adapt to the inevitable changes being encountered in the world today. [email protected] THE WATER GARDEN JOURNAL Volume 23 Number 1

EDITOR FRED MCCORKLE EDITORIAL BOARD JAMES ALLISON PAULA BILES BARRE HELLQUIST WALTER PAGELS DISTRIBUTION KEITH FOLSOM IWGS WEBMASTER RANDALL TATE Front Cover Photo:

The Official Publication of the Cover Photo is INTERNATIONAL WATERLILY AND The eastern skunk cabbage, Lysichiton camtschatcensis WATER GARDENING SOCIETY Photo from Aroids: Plants of the Arum Family by Deni OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY Bown (Timber Press 2000, ISBN 0-88192-485-7, PRESIDENT TISH FOLSOM $34.95). VICE PRESIDENT JIM PURCELL TREASURER ROWENA BURNS SECRETARY ROBERT BURNS EXEC. DIRECTOR KEITH FOLSOM Mission Statement—The International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society (IWGS), is a non-profit BOARD OF DIRECTORS organization of multinational membership dedicated to Stephen Blessing, Robert Burns, Rowena Burns the furtherance of all aspects of water gardens and their Tish Folsom, Cathy Green, Grant Mitchell associated plants. As an organization we support and Larry Nau, Rolf Nelson, Suzan Phillips, Jim Purcell promote education, research, and conservation in these Thomas Tilley, Dael Wright, Charles Thomas areas. www.iwgs.org Volume 23, Number 1. The IWGS Water Garden REGISTRARS Nymphaea Registration Journal (ISSN 1069-5982) is published quarterly by The International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society Jim Purcell – [email protected] (The Society), 340 Old Quarry Lane, P.O. Box 602, Verena Liechti – [email protected] Greenville VA 24440, USA. Phone 540-337-9344 Fax: Nelumbo Registration 540-337-0738, Email [email protected]. All rights reserved. Ken Tilt – [email protected] © 2008. The Water Garden Journal is indexed in EBSCO’s Garden, Landscape & Horticulture Literature ADMINISTRATIVE ADDRESS and Index. SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society 340 Old Quarry Lane, PO Box 602 Postage paid at Greenville VA, USA and additional Greenville VA 24440 mailing offices. Basic subscription/ membership rate for 540-337-9344 one full year is $30 for the online Journal. Hard copy can Fax: 540-337-0738 be mailed for an additional $25 per year. Further details [email protected] and back issues are available from the administrative office in VA. All changes of address and incidents of EDITORIAL ADDRESS non-arrival of journals should be notified to the office in Fred McCorkle VA. Opinions expressed by authors and any products IWGS Water Garden Journal reviewed are not specifically endorsed by The Society, P. O. Box 7554, North Port, FL 34287 USA nor does The Society accept any liability arising from the contents of this journal. 941-423-1836 [email protected]