298 FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



especially, by the globular, furrowed fruit covered with spreading 

 bristles. The flowers vary from one to two inches in diameter, and 

 the crimson or deep scarlet petals are often black at the base. 



The Bitter Candytuft [Iheris amara — order Cruciferce), which 

 is so well known as a border-flower of our gardens, grows freely in 

 some of the chalk districts of the South and East of England. UnHke 

 most of the Crucifers, the flowers are not symmetrical, the two 

 outer petals being much larger than the others. The inflorescence 

 is a raceme, which, hke that of the Wallflower, becomes longer as 

 the flowering proceeds ; and the colour of the petals is white, lilac 

 or red. The height of this plant varies from six to nine inches, 

 and the flowers bloom during July and August. 



The Wild Mignonette {Reseda lutea — order Resedacece) is very 

 common in some chalky districts, generally in fields and other open 

 ground, and may be easily recognised by its close resemblance to 

 the well-known Sweet Mignonette {R. odorata), which is so highly 

 valued as a garden flower on account of its pleasant perfume. It 

 is of a shrubby nature, from one to two feet high, with scattered, 

 stipuled leaves, the lower of which are pinnate, while the upper 

 are three-lobed. The flowers are irregular, yellow, and arranged 

 in short, conical racemes. The six sepals are unequal and linear ; 

 and the petals, also six in number, are very unequal, while the 

 posterior one is divided into many parts. The flowers bloom 

 throughout the summer. 



One of the most characteristic flowers of the chalk is the pretty 

 Rock Rose [Helianthemum vulgar e — order Cistacece), which is often 

 so abundant that it completely covers large patches of banks and 

 pasture-land. The plant is of a procumbent nature, with woody 

 stems, and opposite, flat, oval or oblong leaves, green above and 

 hoary beneath. The yellow flowers are from three-quarters to an 

 inch in diameter, and are arranged in racemes. There are five sepals, 

 two of which are very small ; and the numerous stamens are sensi- 

 tive, spreading out and lying on the petals when the flower is 

 squeezed. The time of flowering is from June to September. 



An allied species — the Hoary Rock Rose {H. canum or H. 

 marifolium) — may be found in the Hmestone districts of the West of 

 England, flowering from May to July. The plant is very similar 

 to the last, but the leaves are not stipuled, are smooth or 

 bairy above, and very hoary beneath. The flowers, too, are much 

 smaller. 



A species of Violet — the Hauy Violet {Viola hirta — order 



