CROWFOOT TRIBE 15 



* * Flowers yelloio ; leaves undivided. 



8. Great Spearwort {R. lingua). — Leaves narrow, tapering to a point, 

 without stalks ; stem erect. Plant perennial. Flowers large, June to 

 August. 



We have by our stream and river sides, and on bogs, two species of 

 Spearwort which are both common flowers, resembling tall buttercups in all 

 tilings but their slender spear-shaped leaves, to which they owe part of their 

 familiar name. The old Saxon " wort " or " weed " is retained in the English 

 names of many plants, as milkwort, butter wort, etc., all of which were well 

 known to oiu' forefathers. 



The foliage of this Spearwort is thick and succulent, its stem often three 

 feet high, and of a bright pale green. The plant is conspicuous on the bog, 

 where it towers above the bog asphodel, and the marsh orchis, and the ivy 

 leaved bell-flowers, and many other lovely plants of the marsh land ; foi 

 true to the life is Tennyson's description : — 



" One willow over the river wejit 

 And shook the wave as the wind did sigh ; 

 Above in the wind was the swallow, 

 Chasing itself at its own wild will, 

 And far through the marish, green and still. 



The tangled water-courses slept, 

 Shot over with purple, and green, and yellow." 



9. Lesser Spearwort {It. fldmmida). — Leaves variable, narrow, taper- 

 ing to a point, slightly stalked ; stem creeping at the base. Plant perennial. 

 This species, which is much smaller than the last, is often its companion on 

 the bog. It remains in bloom somewhat later, and in some specimens its 

 leaves are covered with a silky down. This lesser species is one of our most 

 acrimonious plants, and is very abundant on the margins of the Highland 

 lakes, as well as on the borders of English ditches. Dr. Withering, who, 

 besides being a good botanist, was a skilful physician, remarks of this Spear- 

 wort : — "I feel myself authorized to assert that, in the case of poison being 

 swallowed, it is preferable to any medicine with which I am acquainted." 

 He adds, "that besides its speedy emetic action, it does not excite the painful 

 bodily sensations which are often occasioned by the dose of white vitriol so 

 generally given in such cases." The distilled water of this Spearwort is 

 occasionally used as an emetic ; but, notwithstanding this authority, its use 

 is not frequent. The plant is sometimes laid on the skin to raise l^listers ; 

 but these are extremely difficult to heal. 



10. Serpent's-tongue Spearwort {E. ophioglossifdlius). — Annual, erect, 

 smooth or slightly hairy, the lower leaves stalked, broadly egg-shaped or 

 heart-shaped. Its slender stem is from six to twelve inches long, branched 

 and hollow ; at first somewhat trailing, then erecting itself to flower. It 

 bears numerous small yellow flowers, about a quarter of an inch across, from 

 June to August. The only British habitat of this species is the marshes of 

 southern Hampshire ; formerly it was also found in Jei-sey. 



11. Lesser Celandine, or Pilewort {R. ficdria). — Leaves heart- 

 shaped, or kidney-shaped, and stalked, angular ; sepals 3 ; petals about 9. 

 Stem, single flowered. Plant perennial. Every lover of flowers welcomes 



