VENUS'S i.ookint; c;r.Ass 



'4' 



Venus's Lookin<;' Glass is niou- coiiiinon in the south ami cast, 

 because it is best suited by a chalky or calcareous soil, aiul this t\|)c ol' 

 rock soil is conluu'il to those tlisiricis. li ^^rous .uiiiJ tlie corn in |),u-is 

 of the fields where the stalks are not close, and hides at the fool of die 

 corn like Lamb's l.eiiuce. widi which at a cursorv L;lance it nii'^hl be 

 confused. 



It is a weak stragi^lino- weed, with a simple or branched stem, 

 branchetl at the base, and 

 erect. The leaves are ob- 

 lons;', with rounded teeth, 

 the radical leaves stalked, 

 eqg-shaped or spoon-shajied, 

 and the stem -leaves are 

 blunt. 



The tlowers are in the 

 a.xils. nearly stalkless. lilac, 

 few, terminal, or single. 

 The calyx exceeds the blue 

 corolla, which is open, and 

 the segments are long. The 

 corolla is wheel-shaped. The 

 capsule is triangular and 

 long. 



Venus's Looking Glass 

 is about I ft. in height. 

 Flowers are fouml from 

 May till .\ugust. It is an 

 annual plant, and increased 

 by seeds. 



The whole Hower is like 

 Caiiipaiiii/a, but the ovary is very long, and narrower. The corolla- 

 limb is peculiar, the corolla regular, wheel-shaped, with the anthers. 

 which mature first, free, the corolla-lobes deep. Flie ])ollen is accumu- 

 lated on th(.- hairs ot the style. Insects alight on llieni and carry awa\' 

 the pollen. At night the corolla fokls up lengthwise, and the five 

 lobes become dusted with pollen. When ripe the three stigmas 

 lengthen, and insects deposit pollen on them from another flower, 

 whilst at night the pollen on the corolla touches the stigmas. 



In Spcailaria pcrfoliata the flowers are cleistogamic. In this 

 species the flower grows hidden amongst the corn, and insects cannot 

 find it, so that self-pollination is inevitable. 



Photo. A. R. ir..nvoo.l 



Vkncs's Looking Glass {Lci;ousia hybrida, Delarbre) 



