116 FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



during May and June. The stem is erect, simple or slightly branched, 

 and covered with spreading hairs ; and the lower leaves are kidney- 

 shaped, either crenate or lobed, having long stalks, while the 

 upper ones are smaller, and either entire or sharply lobed. The 

 rather large white flowers are in terminal cymes of from three to 

 six. The calyx adheres to the ovary, and has blunt segments ; 

 the five petals are about twice as long as the sepals ; and both 

 petals and stamens are inserted into the bases of the segments of the 

 calyx. The stamens are ten in number, and the ovary is two-celled, 

 with two styles. 



The principal spring-flowering umbelliferous plant of pastures 

 is the common Earthnut or Pignut {B^inium flexuosum or Conopo- 

 dium denudatum). This plant has a smooth, slender, stem, with a 

 few forked branches, and is usually leafless at the base on account 

 of the early decay of the lower leaves. Its popular names are due 

 to the large, tuberous rootstock, which has somewhat the appearance 

 of a chestnut, and is often eaten by country folk, and dug out of 

 the ground by pigs. The lower leaves have three stalked segments, 

 each divided pinnately into narrow lobes which are themselves 

 divided ; and the upper leaves, which are smaller, are cut into very 

 narrow lobes, the middle one much longer than the others. The 

 small, white flowers are arranged in umbels of from six to ten rays, 

 with a few very narrow bracts or none at all. The umbels are 

 usually terminal, and droop before the flowers are open. The fruit 

 is oval or oblong, slightly flattened, with slightly-spreading styles, 

 and ribs scarcely visible. The plant grows from one to three feet 

 high, and flowers from May to July. 



Dealing next with a few composite flowers (order Compositce), 

 we first call attention to the leading characters of the Common 

 Daisy [Bellis perennis), which is abundant in fields and meadows 

 almost everywhere, and flowers practically all the year round. 

 It has a tufted, perennial rootstock, from which grows a cluster 

 of obovate leaves, usually smooth, and slightly toothed. The 

 leafless peduncles also start direct from the stock, each one bearing a 

 solitary flower-head with an outer whorl of nearly smooth bracts ; a 

 ray of strap-shaped, white or pinkish florets ; and a disc of numerous 

 little yellow, tubular florets. 



The Dandelion {Taraxacum Dens-leonis or T. officinale) is 

 equaUy famihar as a meadow and wayside plant, commencing to 

 flower in March, and continuing in bloom till October. It has a 

 thick tap-root, with a very bitter taste; and direct from the crown 



