RAMPION 169 



X. and 1'^. \Orks, S.W . \ urks, ] )Liiliain, Mtr, Kinross. It is 

 tli)ul>tfiilly wild. 



Ranipion is found on L;ra\c-ll\' j)astui"fs, on roadsidrs, and alon^' 

 hedge-banks, especially in the south of England. While not con- 

 fined to chalky districts it is more common in such areas. 



The name Rampion and the second Latin name (from i-apiini, 

 turnip) relers to the character ol tlie root. The stem is simple or 

 branched, tough. The leaves are stalkless, smooth or hairy, wavy, 

 the radical leaves lance-shaped, oval, scallo|)ed, ha\'ing a narrow leaf- 

 stalk. 



The small palc-lihie (lowers are in an erect, long, terminal raceme, 

 or clustered panicle, v. hich is narrowed, with awl-shaped caly.x segments 

 which are entire. The capsules are erect, stalked. Pores occur just 

 below the calyx segments. 



The stem is 3 ft. high. The flowers are at their best in July and 

 August. The [jlant is biennial, cultivated for the roots. It is sown 

 in the spring for autumn gathering. 



The flower is similar to that of the Harebell, Init is much larger, 

 and the plant is more local. It is quite adapted to cross-pollination. 

 A doubt as to its being native deprives it of some interest in this 

 coimection (but cf Bluebell or Harebell). 



The capsule is perforated at the top, and the seed is scattered by 

 the wind. 



Rampion is largely a sand-loving plant growing on sand soil, 

 but it flourishes best on gravelly soil. 



It is infested by the fungi Pscudopcziza radians and I'lucinia cani- 

 paiiulcr. A moth, The Shark {CuculHa Jtmbi-aiica), feeds upon it. 



Rapitiiciilits, Lonicerus, is from Latin rapiini, turnip, a diminutive 

 of it, from the shape of the roots. 



This beautiful bell-flower is called Rampion and Ramps. I)y 

 Gerarde it was called Rapiinliiim pannn/t. 



The root was once eaten as a salad, and the plant cultivated. The 

 root was eaten raw or boiled. In France and Italy it has been much 

 cultivated. It mav be eaten hot with sauce or cold with vineyar or 



' o 



pepper. 



ESSENTI.M, Sl'ECIKIC ClI.\K.\CTKUS : — 



188. Campanula Rapiincii/iis, L. — .Stem tall, rough, angular, leaves 

 crenate, radical leaves lanceolate, elliptic, stem leaves linear-lanceolate, 

 flowers pale-blue, erect, clustered, in a small jianicle, caly.x-segmen.ts 5, 

 subuLitc. 



