OAK-LEAVED MOUNTAIN AVENS 



31 



The flowers arc large, with white petals, and, as indicated by the 

 second Latin name, these are eight in number. The sepals are long, 

 and covered with black, glandular hairs, like the scapes, which are also 

 hairy and glandular. 



This choice little ])lant is ne\X'r more than 9 in. in height. It is 

 in flower in [uiie, July, and August. It is a perennial and propagated 

 by division. One may rind it in many rock-beds in the garden. 



Ihe Mountain Avens is androdioecious. The hermaphrodite flowers 

 are usually feebK' proterogynous 

 like Avens, the stigmas matur- 

 ing first. The stigmas rise when 

 the flower opens, are sometimes 

 covered over by the inner sta- 

 mens e\'en for some time after 

 the outer anthers have opened,' 

 and these flowers are proteran- 

 drous, the anthers ripening first. 

 The flowers are large and con- 

 tain honey, which is concealed. 



Long hairs are developed on 

 the fruit as a feathery down to 

 aid in dispersal by the wind. 

 The carpels are numerous. 



This handsome species is a 

 rock plant, being found only on 

 limestone rocks, and is there- 

 fore a lime-loving plant. 



A moth, Grapholifha codi- 

 plana, is the only insect which 

 infests it. 



Dryas, Linna;us, is from the Greek, liriis, oak, to which its leaves 

 have a resemblance. The second Latin name refers to a characteristic 

 of the flowc-r, which has 8 petals. 



The plant is called Mountain Avens and Wild Betony. 



Essential Si'ix'ific Char.acters: — 



96. Dryas octopetala, L. — Stem decumbent, woody, leaves stalked, 

 downy white below, oblong, crenate, flowers white, petals 8, sepals 

 ecjual 8, achenes with feathery awn. 



' The outer open first, and insect visitors toucli tlur slii^mas and .-inthers on eitlicr side, and eslaLIish 

 crossing. When no visitors occur the styles bend outwards and touch llic inner anthers, and sclfpollinalion 

 occurs from this cause and the later pendent position of the flower. 



Photo. Dr. Soinervillc Hastings 



Oak-i-eaved Mountain .-\vens 

 (Dryus iirlnpe/cila, L.) 



