330 FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



during the autumn months, while a few are truly autumnal, and 

 are not to be found till the summer has nearly or quite passed. 



In corn-fields we may still meet with the beautiful Pheasant's- 

 eye {Adonis auiumnalis), and in fields the Hairy Buttercup [Ranun- 

 culus hirsutus), the Daisy {Bellis jyerennis) and the Red Hemp-nettle 

 {Galeopsis Ladamun) are yet in flower, while the Annual Meadow 

 Grass {Poa annua) continues to produce new flowers to the end of 

 the year. 



On sunny banks in chalk districts we still see the dehcate 

 Rock Rose [Helianthemum vulgar e) ; and on banks almost every- 

 where the Wild Clary {Salvia Verbenaca), and the still more hardy 

 Milfoil {Achillea millefolium), Knapweeds {Centaurea nigra and 

 C. Scahiosa), Field Scabious {Knautia arvensis), Dark Mullein 

 ( Verhascum nigrum) and the Toadflax {Linaria vulgaris). 



Then, on downs and heaths we find the Yellow Bedstraw 

 {Galium verum), the crimson flowers of the Fine-leaved Heath 

 {Erica cinerea), and the rose-coloured or white blossoms of the 

 Heather or Ling {Calluna vulgaris) : also the Carhne Thistle [Carlina 

 vulgaris), with its inner involucral bracts broadly spreading while 

 the sun shines, but bent inwards to protect the florets during dull 

 weather when the insects are at rest, the Ulac flower-heads of the 

 Devil's-bit Scabious {Scahiosa succisa) and the Small Scabious 

 {S. Columbaria), and the conspicuous flowers of the Chamomile 

 [Anihemis nobilis), all standing out in bold rehef against the back- 

 ground of autumnal foliage. 



Still more numerous are the autumn flowers of the waysides. By 

 the dry and dusty roadside we see the yellow flowers and silvery 

 leaves of the Silver-weed {Potentilla anserina), the little starlike 

 flowers of the Chickweed {Stellaria media), the yellow flower-heads 

 of the Dandelion {Taraxacum officinale), Sow Thistle {SoncMs 

 oleraceus) and Groundsel {Senecio vulgaris), the straggling Knot- 

 grass {Polygonum avicidare), the Spotted Persicary {Polygonum 

 Persicaria), the Shepherd's Purse {Capsella Bursa-pastoris), the 

 Scentless Mayweed {Matricaria inodora), the Chamomile {Anthemis 

 nobilis), the White Goose-foot {Chenopodium album), and Oraches 

 {Atriplex hastata and A. patula). Where the soil is more generous 

 we find the Herb Robert {Geranium Robertianum), the Fleabane 

 {Inula dysenterica), Red and White Dead-nettles {Lamium pur- 

 pureum and L. cdbum), and the Petty Spurge {Euphorbia Peplus) ; 

 while on old walls the PelHtory {Parietaria officinalis) is still in 

 flower. 



