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BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



between them, and are yellow or red, or yellow 

 varied with red or blue. They derive their name 

 from their peculiar wax-like appearance. 



Borage — Borago officinalis 

 (Plate LXIII) 



This plant is not uncommon on walls and on 

 waste ground (especially if sandy), and is some- 

 times grown in gardens. It shoots up erect 

 branching and succulent stems to the height of 

 a foot, covered, like the leaves and the calyx, 

 with coarse stiff hairs. The leaves are sessile, 

 somewhat drooping, and embrace the stem. They 

 are ovate, obtuse, entire, veined, and wrinkled. 

 At the ends of the shoots rise forking flower-stalks, 

 and the flowers droop to one side. The corolla is 

 bright blue (or rarely white). If the dried plant 

 is thrown into the fire it slightly explodes. The 

 fresh plant tastes something like cucumber, and 

 may be used in salad. The flowers are much 

 frequented by bees. 



Viper's Bugloss {Echium vulgare) is a similar 



plant, but more low-growing, and the hairs are so 

 thick as to be almost prickles. The flowers are 

 first red and then blue. 



The Comfrey {Symphytum officinale), is a larger 

 and handsomer plant, which is common in water- 

 meadows and by streams. The leaves are rather 

 large and long, and the flowers are purple, yellow, 

 or white. 



Forget-me-not. Myosotis palnstris 



(Plate LXIV) 



There are several different kinds of Forget-me- 

 not — some, like the plant figured, growing best in 

 very wet places, while others prefer drier situations. 

 The present species has a creeping root, an erect 

 5-ridged stem, brown below and green above, 

 which is hollow, succulent, and more or less hairy. 

 The stem branches, and the leaves are tongue- 

 shaped, bright green, and recurved at the ends, 

 with the surface smooth or hairy. The flower- 

 stems are erect, with a double row of flowers, 

 not exceeding 20, with short stalks. The calyx is 



