200 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
SPECIES IIL—GEUM RIVALE. Zinn. 
Puate CCCCLIX., 
Radical leaves stalked, irregularly lyrate-pinnate, with 2 to 4 
pairs of leaflets, and a terminal one which is often 3-lobed, and 
which, as well as those of the uppermost pair or two pairs, is much 
larger than the others ; stem-leaves ternate or 3-lobed, more rarely 
with a small pair of pinnze besides, with small foliaceous stipules, 
which are generally much less than the lateral leaflets. Flowers 
drooping. Calyx-segments adpressed to the receptacle after flower- 
ing. Petals sub-erect, obovate, with a transverse retuse limb, 
abruptly contracted into a long narrowly wedge-shaped claw. 
Fruit-receptacle on a stalk about as long as the calyx-segments. 
Achenes with the basal part of the tail spreading, glabrous, the 
part above the articulation nearly half the length of the lower, 
plumose from the base to within one quarter of the distance to the 
apex, deciduous. 
In moist woods, and by the sides of streams and ditches. 
Common, and generally distributed in the North, but more sparingly 
so in the South of England, where it appears to be absent from 
Cornwall, Kent, Surrey, and a few other counties. 
England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Harly Summer. 
This plant resembles the two last, but is generally stouter, with 
thicker leaves, and with the pinne less unequal in size. The 
flowers larger, dull brownish-orange, streaked and tinged with pale 
lurid-purple, with the lamina much broader than in either, the 
calyx-segments more erect, dull-purple, the stipules much smaller ; 
but the most remarkable difference results from the presence of a 
stalk which raises the receptacle until, by the time the fruit is ripe, 
it is completely clear of the calyx; this stalk, as well as the carpels 
and receptacle, is hispid. Leaves deep-green. Plant sparingly 
hairy, densely so on the pedicels and calyx-segments. 
Water Avens. 
French, Benoite des Ruisseauw, German, Bach Nelkenwurz. 
This is an elegant and beautiful plant, and possesses the same properties as the 
Herb Bennett. In North America it is esteemed as a febrifuge and tonic. It was 
often used in olden times to flavour ale and other liquors. The root is the most 
active part of the plant. 
