RIVER-SIDE FLOWERS. 387 



This plant must not be confounded with the LOOSESTRIFE 

 (Lysimachia vulgaris) Fig. in " E. B.," 1 141 which is often 

 found on the banks of rivers, with its erect two or three 

 feet stem, glabrous leaves, and handsome yellow flowers. 

 Flowers July. Pliny says this plant has the power to 

 tame restive horses. 



The MEADOW SWEET or DROPWORT (Spircea ulmaria) 

 Fig. in " E. B.," 415 is a great favourite with those who 

 wander by the river-side. It attracts immediate attention by 

 its tall reddish stems, and w r aves of yellowish-white sweet- 

 scented flowers, and its handsome jagged leaves. The 

 French call it La Reine des Pres, and it well deserves the 

 name. The stem rises from three to five feet high, branched 

 upwards ; the leaves are downy beneath, serrated, large, 

 the terminal one the largest. The flowers are yellowish- 

 white, and very sweet-scented. Flowers July. 



Of the WILLOW HERBS (Epilobiunt) from epi, upon ; 

 fabos, a pod ; the flower being placed on the top of the 

 seed-vessel, four species are found along the margins of 

 our waters, all having purple flowers, and when seeding, 

 from the height of the flowering stem, it is occasionally 

 annoying to fly-fishers. 



The ROSE BAY WILLOW HERB (Epilobium angustifolium} 

 Fig. in " E. B.," 495 is the largest ; it is rare in England, 

 but common in Scotland ; distinguished from the others by 

 the flowers being irregular and the stems bent down, whilst 

 the two following have the flowers regular and the stems 

 erect. The Rose Bay is a very handsome plant, four to 

 six feet high. Flowers July. 



The GREAT HAIRY WILLOW HERB (E. hirsutum) Fig. 

 in " E. B./' 497 is almost as large; common enough on 

 our rivers and lakes ; stems from four to five feet high, 

 much branched ; flowers large and purple. Flowers July. 



The SMALL FLOWERED WILLOW HERB (E. parsiflorum) 

 Fig. in " E. B.," 493 similar to the above, but much 

 smaller in all its parts ; stems from one to one and a half 

 feet high, which distinguishes it. Flowers July. The 

 flowers of the Willow Herbs have a peculiar odour, likened 

 by some to that of a gooseberry-pie. 



