238 THE HYDKANQEA FAMILY. 



11. Haklequin-weed — {^Myosotis versicolor.) 



Dry fields, and by edges of seldom-travelled roads and grassy- 

 bordered lanes, not uncommon. Plentiful about Chorlton, Baguley, 

 and Carrington. Fl. May, June. Annual. 



E. B. vii. 480 (as M. scorpioides, the coloured figure). 



The flowers are yellow when they expand, and subsequently become blue. 



12. Viper's Bitgloss — {Echium vulgure.) 



In cornfields and other ploughed land, an occasional visitant. 

 Lymm. (Mr. John Moss.) Fl. June, July. Biennial. 

 E. B. iii. 181 ; Baxter, iii. 189. 



The rough comfrey (Syvipliytum asperrimum), a garden plant, was gathered 

 ten or twelve years ago, apparently wild, in a meadow on the left bank of the 

 river Tame, near Bredbury Wood. The evergreen alkanet, or Anchusa semper- 

 virens, (E. B. i. 45.) also common in gardens, has Ukewise occurred, apparently 

 wild, "in a lane near Dunham Park" (B. G.), and in the lane by Mr. Neild's 

 model farm. (Mr. Leigh.) 



The finest Boragineae grown for ornament are the native species already men- 

 tioned. In addition to these, there are one or two foreign Echiums and Anchusas 

 of great beauty ; the Puhnonarla Virginica ; a Uttle white-flowered annual called 

 Venus' navel-wort, or OmphaUdes linifolia ; an early spring blossom of bright 

 azure, with oval and pointed leaves, and the configuration of a primrose plant, 

 called Omphaludes verna; and a remarkable annual, -with pendulous clusters of 

 yellowish blossoms, called Cerinthe, or honey wort. The three last are remarkable 

 for their glabrous foliage. The choicest of the family, and after the forget-me- 

 not the best-known, is the heliotrope, or Heliotrdpium Peruvidnnm, the delightful 

 odour of which flows abundantly from its lilac clusters till the very latest days of 

 autumn, and in conservatories lasts almost all the year. Some people call it 

 " cherry-pie," from the resemblance of the smell. 



LXIX.— THE HYDRANGEA FAMILY. Hydrangedcece. 



No species of this family grows wild in England, and only two or 

 three Hydrangeas are in common cultivation. The stems are shrubby ; 

 the leaves opposite, simple, aud cxstipulate ; the flowers like those of 

 saxifrages, and clustered in cymes or panicles, those in the centre of 

 the inflorescence being small, regular, and perfect ; while those at the 

 margin arc sterile, and furnished with larger petals than the centre 



