WOODS AND THICKETS IN SPEING 49 



the same form as the radical leaves. The flower has six spreading 

 sepals, resembUng petals, usually white, but often tinged with a 

 delicate pink, or, more rarely, with blue. The fruit consists of a 

 number of downy achenes. 



Belonging to the same order (Banunculacece) we have two species 

 of Hellebore — the Green Hellebore {Hellehorus viridis) and the 

 Stinking Hellebore {H. fostidus), both found in woods on chalk or 



The Wood Axemoxe. 



limestone during April and May. The former, also known in parts 

 as the Bear's-foot (Plate I, Fig. 1), has leaves palmately lobed, 

 consisting of five or seven parts ; and the flowers, which are more 

 than an inch across, have spreading green sepals, and small tubular 

 petals which contain nectar that is supposed to be poisonous on 

 account of the small dead flies that are commonly found sticking 

 to it. The Stinking Hellebore, or Setterwort, has evergreen, radical 

 leaves, the lobes of which do not radiate from a common centre ; 

 and the flowers, of which there are many on each peduncle, have 

 erect sepals. 



