3 8o 



THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



Flowers June and July. The root has been used to dye wool 

 yellow, and it has been employed as a remedy in jaundice. 

 The CREEPING or MARSH SPIKE RUSH (Eleocharis palus- 

 tris) Fig. in " E. B.," 1536 is frequently found by 

 the sides of ditches and wet places, root creeping to a 

 great length, black and shining, as well as the external 

 sheaths of the stems. Flowers June and July. There 

 are five other species of Eleocharis: E. multicast/is, very 

 like the above, only the root is not creeping ; E. pauciflora y 

 rare in England, found frequently on the moors in Scotland ; 



THE FROG-BIT. 



i. Fertile flower. 2. Sterile flower. 3. A leaf. 



E. ccespitosa and E. acicularis, the least spike rush, common 

 by the sides of lakes, &c. ; and E. fluitans, the floating 

 rush, found in still lakes, ditches, and in places where 

 water has dried up. 



The FROG-BIT or LESSER WATER-LILY (Hydrocharis 

 Morsus Ranee) Fig. in " E. B.," 1444 (from udor, water, 



