ON THE CHALK 



307 



Another species of the same genus, known as the Purple Viper's 

 Bugloss {E. Plantagineum), is common in the Channel Islands. It 

 may be distinguished by its branched stem and longer spikes of 

 flowers. The lower leaves, too, are oblong and stalked, while the 

 upper ones are cordate and half clasp the stem. 



No doubt the reader is already acquainted with, the commoner 

 Plantains (order Plantaginacece), so easily distinguished by their 

 spreading radical leaves, with prominent, parallel ribs, and their 

 dense spikes of greenish flowers. There are five British species, 

 one of which — the Hoary Plantain or Lamb's-tongue [Plantago 

 medin) is particularly partial to chalky districts, where it grows in 

 pastures and on dry banks. Its flowering stems grow from three 

 inches to a foot in height, and the flowers bloom from June to 

 September. The leaves are elliptical, 

 either sessile or shortly stalked, and have 

 from five to nine ribs. They lie so 

 closely on the soil that nothing can grow 

 beneath them, and even present the 

 appearance of having been pressed 

 against the ground. They also have a 

 downy surface ; and the stalk, where it 

 exists, is flattened. The flow ering stem 

 is round, and the spike cylindrical. The 

 calyx is cleft into four, with its segments 

 turned backward ; and the sepals are not 

 keeled as they are in some other species. 

 The coroUa is tubular, with four spread- 

 ing limbs ; and the cream-coloured 

 anthers are displayed on the tips of long 

 filaments. 



We have now to consider several representatives of the Orchi- 

 dacece, and it will be well here to note the general characters of 

 this remarkable order as a whole. The Orchids have rounded or 

 palmate tuberous roots, a few glossy leaves which sheath the stem, 

 and simple spikes or racemes of flowers, the prevailing colours of 

 which are red, pink, green and white. The sepals, three in number, 

 often partake more of the nature of petals. There are tliree petals, 

 the lowest one, forming the lower hp of the flower, often prolonged 

 into a spur, and frequently assuming a remarkable form resembling 

 an insect or some other member of the animal creation. The 

 stamens are united to the style, and form with it a solid column, 



X 2 



AN Orchis flower. 

 sepaLs. P, petals. L, lip. 



C, spur. A, pollen masses. 



B, stigma. 



