BY THE RIVER SIDE 



313 



the two pedicels spreading while in flower, but turned downwards 

 when in fruit. The five sepals have long points, and the five petals 

 are slightly notched. As in other species of the genus there are 

 ten stamens, five shorter than the other five ; and a five-lobed ovary, 

 with an equal number of long styles, all attached to a long, central 

 beak. The five carpels separate when ripe, and are raised by the 

 curHng of their styles. This t 



flower is common in wet 

 meadows, especially in the 

 southern counties, and is 

 usually more frequent along 

 the banks of rivers and 

 ditches, but it is sometimes 

 also seen in wet thickets. 

 It flowers in June and 

 July. 



The Hemp Agrimony 

 {Eupatormm cannahinum), 

 of the order Composite^, is 

 very common along the 

 banks of streams and on 

 the borders of wayside 

 ditches all over Britain. It 

 would hardly be taken for 

 a composite flower by those 

 who are acquainted only 

 with the more typical 

 members of the order, but 

 an examination of its rather 

 duU Hlac blossoms will soon 

 reveal its affinity to the other 



members of the group, for the compact, terminal corymb is formed 

 of numerous small heads, each consisting of about five tubular, 

 perfect florets of equal size, surrounded by an involucre of a few 

 overlapping bracts, and remarkable on account of their projecting 

 styles, which are deeply divided into club-shaped branches. The 

 plant is a large one, with erect, reddish stems, varying from two 

 to six feet in height ; and it flowers from July to September. 



We have already noticed the Lesser Skull-cap (p. 275), which 

 is rather common on damp heaths, and there is another British 

 member of the same genus — the Common Skull-cap {ScuteUaria 



The OommonMeadow Rue. 



