BOEAGE TRIBE 261 



but are usually smaller than in the preceding species. The name for this 

 species is not a good one ; for though it grows in a crowded manner, it is 

 never really tufted. 



* * Hairs on the calyx tube spi'eading. 



4. Upright Wood Scorpion-grass {M. sylvdtica). — Calyx with 

 spreading cui'vcd bristles, deeply 5-cleft, divided more than half way down, 

 closed when in fruit ; limb of the corolla flat, longer than the tube ; style 

 nearly as long as the calyx ; leaves oblong, lanceolate, stalks of the lower 

 leaves dilated ; perennial. This is a rare species, of dry, shady places, chiefly 

 in the north of England and Lowlands of Scotland, though found occasionally 

 in Kent and other counties. It has large, handsome blue flowers, from May 

 to August. 



5. Rock Scorpion-grass {M. alpesfris). — Calyx deeply 5-cleft, open 

 when in fruit ; limb of the corolla flat, longer than the tube ; leaves oblong, 

 lanceolate, those of the root on long stalks ; perennial. This beautiful species 

 is a mountain plant, growing at a great elevation on the Breadalbane 

 mountains. Mr. Backhouse also found it in great abundance on the high 

 limestone at the east end of Mickle Fell in Teesdale, flowering in June. It 

 has large handsome leaves, and most lovely large flowers of pale but bright 

 blue, which Mr. Babington says are sweet-scented in the evening. They are 

 the handsomest of all our native species, and grow at first in such dense 

 clusters as almost to form heads, though they afterwards become racemed. 

 They expand in August and September, on a stem about half a foot high. 

 Many writers consider this species an Alpine form of M. sylvatica. 



6. Field Scorpion-grass (if. arv(fnsis). — Calyx half 5-cleft, closed 

 Avhen in fruit, with curved bristles ; limb of the corolla concave, equalling the 

 tube ; style very short ; flowers on short stalks in racemes ; leaves oblong, 

 acute, lower ones somewhat egg-shaped and blunt ; annual or biennial. This 

 is the most frequent of all the species, and, like all the others, it has the 

 hairy leaves which suggested the name of the genus. It is in blossom from 

 June till September, and its brilliant small sapphire blossoms are often given 

 in country places in little bouquets by those who consider it the forget-me- 

 not. The stem varies from six inches to a foot and a half in height, and the 

 whole plant is rough with spreading bristles. In very shady places its 

 flowers are sometimes much larger, when it is often mistaken for M. sylvatica. 

 It is, like the other species, somewhat mucilaginous and astringent ; and in 

 times when such plants were used either for pulmonary affections or for. 

 external emollient applications, this species, as being the most common, was 

 -very generally selected for use in inflammatory disorders. Country people 

 in Kent still make a decoction of its leaves for curing coughs. 



7. Early Field Scorpion-grass {3L collina). — Calyx covered with 

 spreading, hooked bristles, open when in fruit ; limb of the corolla concave, 

 shorter than the tube ; leaves oblong and blunt, lower ones inversely egg- 

 shaped, their hairs straight ; aimual. 



This pretty but small plant is not uncommon in April and May, on dry 

 banks, tops of cottages and walls, but is not large enough to attract the 

 notice of any who are not observant of wild flowers. The whole plant rarely 



