ISO 



BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



[Div. I 



The Small Magpie Moth {Botys urticatd) is about 

 an inch and a quarter across the brown and 

 white wings ; the thorax is yellow, and there are 

 two yellow marks at the base of the forewings. 

 The larva is whitish, with a green line on the back. 

 Another insect sometimes found among Nettles is 

 the curious little Coccide {Dorthesia urticce), which 

 is covered with a snow-white waxy secretion. 



Order LXXXVI. Cannabinacem (i genus) 



The only British representative of this Order is 

 the Hop {Hamulus lupulus). It is a climbing 

 plant found in hedges, and largely cultivated in the 

 south of England (especially in Kent) for flavouring 

 beer. The perianth is quadrilobate ; the male 

 flowers grow in small clusters, and the females in 

 catkins ; the perianth of the latter is pitcher-shaped. 

 The stem is rough, and the leaves are 3- or 5-lobed. 

 They grow on long stalks. 



The Ghost Moth (Hepialus hamuli) is named 

 after the Hop, because its whitish subterranean 

 caterpillar feeds on the roots of Hop, as well as on 



those of Nettle and many other plants. The male 

 is white above and brown below ; the female is 

 also brown below, but the forewings are yellow, 

 with reddish markings, and the hindwings dull 

 reddish. The hovering flight of the white male on 

 summer evenings appears to have suggested the 

 name. It is common in meadows, and likewise, 

 doubtless, in country churchyards. 



Closely allied to the Hop is Hemp {Cannabis 

 sativa), an Indian plant cultivated in some parts of 

 Europe for its fibre. It has stems thickly clothed 

 with short hair, and pinnate leaves, with 5 or 7 

 serrated lanceolate leaflets. 



The fibres of Hemp have been used from very 

 early times to make rope and clothing. The dried 

 leaves are chewed or smoked in the East to 

 produce intoxication, and are called Bhang or 

 Hashish. Medicinally Hemp is used to quiet the 

 nervous system and to relieve pain, especially in 

 cases of asthma and mania. 



The allied Order Moracece is not represented 

 in Britain. It includes the different species of 

 Mulberry, which have juicy fruit resembling a 



