THALAMIFLOR/: 67 
resinous matter used for lathering like soap. Chick- 
weed and Corn Cockle are used as birdseed. The 
latter used to grace our cornfields, but it is now rare. 
It used to blunt the sickles in the days of reaping. 
THE GREATER STITCHWORT (Stellavia Holostea). 
The first Latin name refers to the well-marked 
arrangement of the petals of the flower, which in the 
Grassy Stitchwort, more so than in this plant, are 
star-like or stellate. The second Latin name means 
all bone, and was said to be applied to it by a sort of 
euphemy, because instead of being rigid and strong 
the stem is remarkably brittle and needs the support 
of surrounding plants amongst which it grows. 
Probably the swollen nodes like knee-joints and the 
brittleness are the real reasons why this name was 
given. 
The term ‘“‘Stitchwort” is also obscure. It may be 
that it was regarded as a remedy for the stitch in the 
days when all plants had some curative virtue. 
Greater Stitchwort is found in every county except 
Mid-Lancashire and some Scotch counties, and in 
the Highlands grows at an altitude of 2000 ft. 
This lovely spring flower is to be found in wood- 
lands, where it grows amid the undergrowth which 
protects and supports it. It is also found in the 
hedgerow peeping out between a medley of other 
wayside flowers, and adding grace to every leafy lane. 
Thick extensive woods it eschews, but is common in 
