RIVER-SIDE FLOWERS. 



377 



The juice of the fresh root is excessively acrid. The 

 fresh roots have been mixed with the food of swine bitten 

 by a mad dog, and it is stated they escaped the disease, 

 when others bitten by the same dog died raving mad. 



The roots are used in Scotland to form a black dye, 

 and are boiled with copperas to make ink. A slice of the 

 fresh root held in the mouth between the teeth is said to 

 cure the toothache. 



YELLOW WATER-IRIS. 



1. The germen, style, and three large pttal-like stigmas. 



2. The capsule containing the seeds. 



The Orris root of the druggist, with its pleasant violet- 

 like smell, is really Iris root. 



Another very beautiful water-plant is the FORGET-ME- 

 NOT (Myosotis palustris), from mus, a mouse, and ous, oots, 

 an ear, from the shape of the leaves (Fig. in " E. B.," 1 104). 

 It is also known by the names of Water-Scorpion Grass, 

 and Marsh Mouse-Ear. 



This plant at times grows in such profusion as to form 

 a thick turquoise bed with its bright-blue flowers, varied 

 by its golden eye and small white ray at the base of each 

 segment. The flower-buds just before they open are of a 



