BOGS, MARSHES, WET PLACES— SUMMER 249 



1. The Forget-me-not {Myosotis palustris). — An abundant plant, 

 growing to a foot or more in height, and bearing, from June to 

 August, bright blue flowers, nearly half an inch across, with a 

 yellow centre. It has a creeping rootstock, with runners, and 

 rather weak ascending stems clothed with spreading hairs. The 

 leaves are blunt, and often covered with hairs that lie close 

 against the surface. The calyx is divided to about a third of its 



The Water Pepper or Biting Persicaria. 



length into short, triangular teeth, and is covered with closely-pressed 

 hairs. 



2. The Creeping Water Scorpion-grass {M. repens). — A very 

 similar plant, sometimes regarded as a variety of the last. Its 

 stock emits leafy runners above the ground, and the stem is more 

 hairy. The flowers, too, are of about the same size, but of a sky- 

 blue colour, and their stalks are longer, bending downwards 

 when in fruit. The calyx is divided to about the middle into narrow 

 teeth. 



3. The Tufted Water Scorpion-grass {M. ccBspitosa). — Also a 

 similar plant, often regarded as a variety of M. palustris; but 



