92 FLOWERS Ol' LAKl-.S, RI\1:RS, ETC. 



borne in the axils as well as terminalK. The fruit is small, smooth, 

 and crlobular, ami whrn ripe the Iruil-slalks are turned back or at ri;4ht 

 angles to the stem. 



The height \'aries Irom i to 2 ft. Mowers are luund in July and 

 August. The plant is perennial, being a deciduous, herbaceous plant, 

 which is multiplietl by division. 



The flowers are honeyed, proterandrous. white, conspicuous, and 



numerous, and grow in 

 the open, rearing their 

 heads aljove the aquatic 

 herbage; anti being 

 scented they are attract- 

 ive to insects, which are 

 al)le to cross - pollinate 

 ^kIvV'^UR them. Insects ma\' fre- 

 K«BK<it'. quently carry pollen to 

 ^^fW'S '■'^^ stigma with their feet. 

 ^i|S|j^?^y The stamens and pistil 

 are close together. The 

 capsules are smooth and 

 break off at the fruit - 

 stalks to fall around the 

 parent [jlant. 



This handsome P>ed- 

 straw is a semi-aquatic and 

 a peat-loving plant, grow- 

 ing in moist peaty soil, 

 or in the silt of ditches 

 in which much vegetable 

 matter is distributed. 

 If e.xamined carefully it will often be fountl to be infested with a 

 little fungus, Pmciuia s;a/ii. one of the cluster-cu])s. The same beetle, 

 moths, and ll\- that seek out the Heath Bedstraw as a food plant feed 

 on this one. 



The second Latin name refers to its habitat, a marsh. 

 The Bedstraws have been used for curdling milk. 

 EssEXTi.M, SrFXinc Ch.\racters: — 



141. Galijtiu palitstrc, L. — Stem loose, straggly, rough, with re- 

 ile.xed prickles, leaves 6 8 in a whorl, linear-lanceolate, with bristle 

 point, rough margins, flowers in loose panicle, fruit-stalks at right 

 angles, frm't smooth. 



Marsh Hkdstk.wv yiinliuin palustrc, I..) 



