114 



COROLLIFLOR^S 



LlMOSELLA AQUATICA 



(Common Mud-Wort) 



5. Limosella {Mud-wort) 



1. L. aquatica (Common Mud-wort). 

 The only British species. A small plant, 

 throwing up from the roots a number 

 of smooth leaves on long stalks, and 

 several minute, pale rose-coloured or 

 white flowers, which are overtopped by 

 the leaves. Watery places ; not com- 

 mon. Fl. July, August. Annual. 



6. Melampyrum {Cow-wheat) 



1. M. pratense (Common Yellow Cow- 

 wheat). A common plant 6-12 inches high, 

 with opposite pairs of straggling branches 

 below ; leaves in distant pairs, narrow, 

 tapering, smooth ; and long-tubed axillary 

 yellow flowers in pairs, all turning one way ; 

 corolla four times as long as the calyx ; lower 

 lip longer than the upper. Cows are said to 

 be fond of it, and according to Linnaeus, the 

 best and yellowest butter is made where 

 it abounds. The name pratense (growing 

 in meadows) is misleading, as it is practi- 

 cally never found in such situations. Woods, 

 common. Fl. June to August. Annual. 



2. M. sylvaticum (Small Cow-wheat). 

 Very like the last, but smaller ; the flowers 

 are deeper yellow, the corolla only twice as 

 long as the calyx, and the lips are equal. 

 Mountainous woods in Scotland and the 

 north of England. FL July, August. Annual. 



Melampyrum Pratense 

 (Common Yellow Cow- 

 wheat) 



3. M. arvense (Purple Cow-wheat). Flowers in oblong spikes; 

 corolla-tube pink, throat yellow, and lips red ; flowers almost buried 

 among the long bracts, which are of a rosy pink, and very much 

 cut and toothed. Cornfields in Norfolk, and a few places in South- 

 Eastern England ; rare. Fl. July, August. Annual. 



4. M. cristatum (Crested Cow- wheat). Plant about a foot high; 

 leaves narrow ; flowers in 4 -sided spikes ; corolla yellow and purple, 

 the floral bracts broad and toothed and of a beautiful pink. Woods 

 and thickets in the eastern counties ; rare. Fl. August, September. 

 Annual. 



