PRIMEOSE TRIBE 75 



l)lossoms grow in a thick cluster at the top of the stem, and are, as well as 

 the calj^x, spotted with orange. They expand in July. 



3. Yellow Pimpernel, or Wood Loosestrife (L. /imrt/-H»;). — Leaves 

 opposite, egg-shaped, acute, shortly stalked ; stem prostrate ; stalks one- 

 flowered, axillary, longer than the leaves ; filaments smooth, distinct ; 

 perennial. This species well deserves its name of Yellow Pimpernel, for its 

 leaf both in form and hue, and its blossom in shape, at once suggest the 

 resemblance to the Scarlet Pimpernel. It is somewhat straggling in habit, 

 its weak stem and branches trailing over the ground to a length of a couple 

 of feet. The flowers are of bright yellow, and ma}^ be found in the woods 

 from May to July. 



4. Creeping Loosestrife, Moneywort, or Herb Twopence 

 {L. nummuldria). — Leaves opposite, somewhat heart-shaped or egg-shaped, 

 blunt, shortly stalked ; stem prostrate, creeping ; stalks one-flowered, 

 axillary, solitary, shorter than the leaves ; filaments glandular, connected at 

 the base ; perennial. This species is so frequently cultivated on artificial 

 rock-work, or on the borders of fountains in gardens, that it is well known. 

 Nor is it uncommon as a wild plant, growing often about ruins or in damp 

 woods, hanging down the sides of mossy slopes, its branches trailing a foot 

 or more in length, well clad with roundish shining deep-green leaves, and 

 beaiing in June and July its numerous handsome flowers of bright yellow. 

 It multiplies rapidly by the root and stems, but though a very hardy plant 

 it rarely, if ever, produces seed in this country. It was formerly considered 

 an excellent wound-herb, decoctions of the plant made with wine or water 

 being drunk by the sufferer, while lotions prepared from its juices were used 

 externally. It probably possesses some slightly astringent properties. Like 

 most of the Primrose tribe, it is unpleasing to cattle. 



7. Pimpernel (AnagdlUs). 



1. Scarlet Pimpernel (A. arvMsis). — Stem ascending or somewhat 

 prostrate ; leaves opposite or in threes, egg-shaped, sessile, dotted beneath ; 

 flower-stalks longer than the leaves ; calyx neai'ly as long as the wheel-shaped 

 corolla ; annual. The normal form of this flower has a scarlet corolla, often 

 fringed with minute glandular hairs. In another form, in which the margins 

 of the corolla are toothed and scarcely at all glandulose, the colour is bright 

 blue. This is the A. ccerulea of some writers. Another variety is white, or 

 white with a purple eye, and is the var. pallida of botanists. The names of 

 Shepherd's Barometer and Poor Man's Weather-glass, by which the Scarlet 

 Pimpernel has long been known, are very appropriate — with limitations. The 

 flower never opens on a rainy day, and long before the shower is coming it 

 is conscious of its approach, and closes up its petals. Several of our wild- 

 flowers close, like the convolvulus, before rain, but none are such good 

 barometers as this. It was early noticed by naturalists. Derham, in his 

 " Physico-Theology," says : " The flowers of Pimpernel, the opening and shut- 

 ting of which are the countryman's weather-wiser ; whereby, Gerarde saith, he 

 foretelleth what weather shall follow the next day ; for, saith he, if the 

 flowers be close shut up it betokeneth rain and foul weather ; cojitrary wise, 



10—2 " 



