RIVER-SIDE FLOWERS. 379 



leaves are placed opposite, close to the stem, and deeply 

 cut. The flowers whitish, with a purple tinge, and placed 

 in thick whorls round the upper leaves. The name Gipsy 

 Wort arises from the gipsies using the juice of this plant 

 to dye their skins a blackish brown. Flowers June and 



July. 



A very beautiful plant, not uncommon in some localities, 

 especially in the marshy meadows bordering the rivers, is 

 the COMMON BUCK-BEAN, ROG-BEAN, or MARSH TREFOIL ^Ap 

 (Menyanthes trifoliatum) Fig. in " E. B.,"92O. The name 

 is derived from the Greek mene, a month, and anthos, a 

 flower, because the flowers are said to last in perfection 

 for a month. The leaves are on long radical stalks, and 

 divided into three leaflets, slightly waved at the margins. 

 The flower stem is about eight inches in height, termina- 

 ting in a raceme of flowers, flesh-coloured outside, almost 

 white within, the disk beautifully fringed with white fila- 

 ments. Flowers May and June. 



' k Oft where the stream meandering glides, 

 Our beauteous menyanthes hides 



Her clustering fringed flowers ; 

 Nor 'mid the garden's sheltering care, 

 Of famed exotics, rich and rare, 

 Purple or roseate, brown or fair, 



A plant more lovely towers." 



In the Highlands of Scotland it is used as a tea to 

 strengthen weak stomachs. It cures the disease called the 

 darn in cattle, and has been used as a substitute for hops. 

 It is said to cure the sheep of the rot, but it is now ascer- 

 tained that sheep will not eat it. An infusion has often 

 been used against rheumatism and dropsy. In Hamburg 

 it is called the " Flower of Liberty." 



A handsome plant frequently found on the margin of the 

 rivers is the COMMON MEADOW RUE or FEATHER COLUMBINE 

 (Thalictrum flavuni) Fig. in " E. B.," 8 from thallo, to grow 

 green. The stem grows three or four feet in height. The 

 leaves are placed alternately dark-green ; the leaflets are 

 usually divided into three clefts. The flowers are very 

 numerous yellow and the panicle very much branched. 



