THALAMIFLOR^ i37 



Blinks there are three stamens (or four), in Claytonia 

 five. In the former the petals are united, in the 

 latter they are distinct. 



Water Blinks {Montia fontana). 



So diminutive a plant is not likely to be observed 

 except by the careful botanist who makes a thorough 

 study of the vegetation of a district, hence it is not 

 a well-known wild-flower. The first Latin name 

 commemorates the Italian botanist J. de Monti. 

 The second refers to its habitat in moist places 

 (fontana, fountain, spring). 



Water Blinks is found in all parts of the British 

 Isles, as far north as the Shetlands, and in Ireland 

 and the Channel Islands. In the Highlands it 

 ascends to 3200 ft. 



The habitat is brooks or marshes on the borders 

 of rills and springs or moist places where the water 

 is not stagnant. The plant also grows on wet 

 heaths. There is one variety which grows in water, 

 hence the name Water Blinks. It is also a member 

 of the freshwater aquatic formation, growing in 

 quickly flowing streams, with an association of plants 

 in non-calcareous w^aters, with Bog Stitchwort, Ivy- 

 leaved Crowfoot, Starwort, etc. In the Heather 

 moor association it is found as a member of the 

 rush society on upland moors, amongst arctic alpine 

 vegetation in the pasture zone, and with an associa- 

 tion of hydrophilous or aquatic crevice plants. 



