42 



FLOWERS OF THE BOGS AND MARSHES 



more or less coarsely-toothed, and bitter in taste, shortly stalked, 

 downy beneath. 



The flowers are in spikes, with bracts, the male ones in spikes 

 crowded and erect, with broad, egg-shaped, hollow, leaflike organs, 

 and red anthers, the female having red styles. The berry, a drupe, 

 is 2-winged, small, and lens-shaped. 



The plant is 2-4 ft. in height. The flowers bloom in May, June, 

 and July. Bog Myrtle is a deciduous shrub, propagated by layers. 



The plant is usually dioecious, but the flowers may be complete. 



Photo. Dr Somcrville Hastings 



Bog Mvrtlk {.)/yn'ru Cilc, I,.) 



The flowers are in short catkins. The male has 2 bracteoles and 

 4 stamens, and the female has 4 bracteoles, 2 syncarpous carpels, and 

 I orthotropous ovule. The flowers are pollinated by the wind. The 

 styles are stigmatic all over. The anthers open outwards, and are 

 fixed by the base. The pollen is powdery, held by the catkin scales till 

 it is blown away. The drupe, containing a i -seeded stone, may be 

 dispersed by birds or by the wind, being enclosed in a winged 

 perianth. 



Bog Myrtle is a peat-loving plant, requiring essentially a peat soil. 



A beetle, Orchestes iota, several Lepidoptera, Light Knot Grass 

 {Acronvc/a »ienyanthidis), Sweet Gale Moth {A. viyriccr). Rosy Mar\ el 

 [Noctita siibrosca), Antithesia diwidiana, Tortrix I'ibitrnana. Aiic/iy- 

 lopcra sicnlaua, PcToncca lipsiana, Eitchroniia arbitteUa, Scruoris poh- 

 iana, Powdered Quaker {Orthosia gracilis). Argent and Sable {Cidaria 



