Bt THE RIVER SIDE S17 



Passing now to the order Polygonacece we have to note the Great 

 Water Dock {Rumex Hydrolajmthum) — a smooth plant, varying from 

 three to six feet in height, much resembhng other Common Docks in 

 general appearance, but found almost always on the borders of 

 streams and ponds. Its leaves are lanceolate in form, usually 

 pointed, and either flat or sUghtly curled at the margins. The upper 

 ones taper down into the stalk ; but the lower ones, which are 

 from one to two feet long, are often heart-shaped at the base. 

 The reddish-green flowers are closely-whorled, and form long 

 panicles. The perianth is cleft into six parts, of which the 

 three outer are smaller and covered with httle tubercles, while the 

 inner become enlarged and close over the triangular fruit. Each 

 flower has six stamens and three very short styles. This plant is 

 in flower during July and August. 



A few species of Willows and Sallows that grow on the banks of 

 streams belong to the order Salicacece, and have the following features 

 in common : — Their leaves are simple, stipulate, and deciduous. 

 The flowers are imperfect, in erect catkins with small scales 

 at the base, the male and the female 'flowers being produced 

 on separate trees or shrubs. Each male flower consists only 

 of a small scale and two or more stamens ; and the female 

 of a similar scale, and a conical ovary of one cell with a forked 

 style. The fruit is a conical capsule of two valves, containing 

 several seeds that are covered with white, silky hairs. The species 

 referred to are the Almond-leaved and the Bay-leaved Willows, 

 the Dark-leaved Sallow, and the Purple Osier, but we refrain from 

 introducing descriptions since the identification of these trees is 

 somewhat difficult for a beginner. 



