304 



FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



heads are of a dull yellow colour, with leaflike bracts, arranged 

 in a branched corymb. The involucre bracts are linear and 

 reflexed, and the ray florets are inconspicuous. 



Two representatives of the order Geniianacece are commonly 

 found on chalk hills and pastures ; they are the Field Gentian 

 {Gentiana campestris), and the Perfoliate Yellow-wort {Chlora 

 perfoliata or Blackstonia perfoliafa). The former is an erect plant, 

 from four to ten inches high, with a branched stem ; opposite, 



sessile leaves ; and conspicuous, 

 bluish-purple flowers, bloom- 

 ing in August and September. 

 The calyx is cleft into four, 

 the two outer segments being 

 large and ovate. The corolla 

 is also four-cleft, and salver- 

 shaped. 



The Yellow-wort is an 

 erect, glaucous plant, v^ith an 

 unbranched stem from six to 

 eighteen inches in height, and 

 beautiful yellow flowers, from 

 four to nine in number, 

 arranged in a cyme. The 

 leaves are in widely-separated 

 pairs, united at their bases, so 

 that the stem penetrates them. 

 The calyx is deeply divided, 

 and the limbs of the corolla are 

 spreading. This plant flowers 

 from June to September. 

 Some species of Mullein {V erhascum) are particularly partial 

 to chalk and Hmestone districts. They are handsome plants, 

 belonging to the order Scrophulariacece, rendered conspicuous 

 by their woolly leaves and spikes of yellow or A\hite flowers. The 

 Great Mullein ( F. Thapsus) is common on banks and roadsides, and 

 flowers from June to August. Its stem is stout, erect, very woolly, 

 and varies from two to flve feet in height. The leaves are very 

 large and thick, and are so wooUy on both sides that they resemble 

 flannel. The flowers form a large, dense, club-shaped spike. 

 Each has a corolla with five spreading lobes ; and flve stamens, 

 with white hairs on their filaments, two longer than the other 



The Great Mullien. 



