173 



6. M. arvensis, Hoffm., (Field Scorpion Grass). Calyx with spreading 

 hooked bristles, half five-cleft, when in fruit ovate with closely converging teeth, 

 shorter than the divergent pedicels. Limb of the corolla concave, equalling the 

 tube. Racemes with a leaf at the base. 



M. arvensis, Hook. Scot., p. 67, (excl. syn.) ; Engl. Bot., t. 2629 ; Borr. in 

 Hook. Brit. Fl., ed. 3, p. 103. M. sylvatica, Smith, Engl. Fl., v. i., p. 251, 

 (excl. syn.) ? M. scorpioides, u , Linn., Sp. Plant., p. 188 ; Huds. p. 78. M. 

 scorpioides hirsuta, Raii Syn., p. 229. 



In fields, gardens, cultivated places, hedge-banks, &c. Very common. An- 

 nual ; flowers from May to September. Root fibrous. Herb of a rather pale 

 green, clothed with lax, spreading, soft hairs. Stems from 12 or 18 inches to 2 

 feet high, branched above, leafy. Leaves oblong, the lower ones and root-leaves 

 on dilated stalks. Racemes terminal, usually with a leaf at the base, and axillary, 

 the terminal raceme forked, frequently with one flower situated exactly in the axil 

 of the fork. Flowers smaller than in any of the preceding. This is, according 

 to Fries, the " ipsissimam M. arvensem, Linn. ;" and, as Mr. Borrer observes, 

 " the only one usually found in cultivated fields." Sir J. Smith's M. arvensis is 

 probably the M. collina, Hoffm. ; although he appears to have had very indistinct 

 ideas respecting this species, as well as the present. Indeed it is difficult to de- 

 cide what his M. sylvatica may have been, and the description would seem to have 

 been drawn up partly from this and partly from the preceding. Withering's M. 

 arvensis refers especially to the present species, but includes, also, the preceding 

 and M. versicolor, and probably, also, the M. collina of the British Flora. The 

 M. arvensis is certainly the most common of our British species, and abounds 

 along the borders of cornfields, under hedge-rows, &c, attracting attention by its 

 long clusters of pretty blue star-like flowers, which, although neither so conspicu- 

 ous nor so elegant as those of the true Forget-me-not, are yet sufficiently so to 

 deserve the notice of the admirer of Flora's treasures. A fairy bouquet of jewels 

 of no ordinary beauty may be formed from these sapphire-like flowerets, in con- 

 junction with the small pink or amathystine rosettes of Geranium molle or Are- 

 naria rubra, the pure- white pearly stars of many rays of Stellaria graminea, and 

 the little golden Maltese crosses of Galium cruciatum. 



7. M. collina, Hoffm., (Early Scorpion Grass). Calyx with spreading 

 hooked bristles, when in fruit ventricose open, equalling the recurved pedicels. 

 Limb of the corolla concave, shorter than the tube. Raceme usually with one re- 

 mote flower near the base. 



M. collina, Borr. in Hook. Br. FL, ed. 3, p. 103. M. arvensis, Engl. 

 Bot., t. 2558 ; Smith, Eng. FL, v. i., p. 252, (excl. syn.). 



Sandy banks, walls, and dry places. Not common. Near Edinburgh, Dr. 

 Greville ; near Hagley, Worcestershire. Annual; flowers April and May. 

 Stems from two to six inches high, clothed, as well as the leaves* with open silky 



