JUNE. 223 



flaming Poppy* is the first to announce the approach 

 of the Summer solstice, by the display of its scarlet 

 banner, and the red Lychnis (L. flos-cuculi?) quickly 

 follows in damp places, with its ragged pink petals, 

 from whence it is commonly called " Ragged Robin." 

 Next the yellow specious flowers of the common Flag 

 ( Iris pseudacorus,) glitter in the marsh, where gene- 

 rally at this time many splendid blueish-green Dragon- 

 flies {Agrion virgo} , are fluttering ; and conspicuous 

 in the golden meadows, towering above the masses of 

 sweet Honey suckle- Clover, appears the Great Summer 

 Daisy (Chrysanthemum lencanthemum) ,f The purplish- 

 blue flowers of the Meadow Cranes-bill (Geranium 

 pratense), are now very obvious amidst woody or river- 

 side pastures, with several others of the same tribe ; 

 and the bright yellow heads of the Bird's-foot Trefoil 

 (Lotus corniculatus) , often tinged with light red or 

 crimson, greatly contribute to ornament the scene. 

 A wet gully or tinkling rill, may often, at this time, 

 be traced along the whole extent of a field by a line 

 of the sweet-scented Meadow Dropwort (Spiraea id- 

 maria), whose cream-coloured panicles are now 

 becoming every-where visible. The Great Valerian 

 (V. officinalis^) fringes woods in a similar manner. 



For those botanists who desire to study GRASSES, 

 this is the opportunity to inspect them in their full 

 perfection, as their stamens and coloured farina pre- 

 sent themselves to view. At least thirty-five genera, 

 and about one hundred and twenty-five species, are 



* The light-red Papaver argemone, distinguished by its long hairy cap- 

 sule, blows earliest ; the specious Rhceas is rather later, as well as P. 

 dubium- 



t This is generally called the " Midsummer Daisy," though in fact it 

 comes into flower in May, and is abundant the first week in June. 



