108 CHAPTER XIV. 



many more. But this district has a number of corn- 

 field weeds which are peculiar to the south. The 

 graceful Gladiolus is universal and abundant ; the 

 curious Specularia (a Campanula) is sprinkled through 

 the crop, and forms banks of deep purple in the 

 corners of each terrace. The inferior stalk-like ovary 

 of this plant is furnished with bracts. The blossoms 

 of the Specularia mark by their opening the hour of 

 seven a.m. on the floral clock of Linnaeus. In St. 

 Barthelemy, Cimiez, and other spots not yet com- 

 pletely built over, if you will forsake for one short 

 hour the Promenade Anglaise with its blinding glare, 

 and venture so far afield in the early spring, you will 

 see the flowers of the wild Anemone (A. Coronaria), 

 and the equally wild Tulip forming a fine contrast 

 with the tender green of the young grain. I have 

 also found in some places the Pheasant's Eye (Adonis) 

 growing plentifully in the corn. 



The wreath of the Ligurian Ceres is a rich one, 

 though her domain consists not of broad rolling acres, 

 but of long narrow terraces built up with infinite 

 labour and repaired with constant toil. 



Before leaving the Indian Corn, I must mention 

 an interesting peculiarity. Adventitious roots are 

 thrown out above the base of the stem. There is a 

 tendency in many Endogens to produce these roots, 

 chiefly I think when the plant stands in a swampy 

 place or is over-watered. It is easy to see how the 

 Pandanus of the Mauritius has raised itself above 

 the ground, and stands propped on its pillar- like 

 roots. My son found an abnormal plant in which 

 the pistillate spike grew at the end of the axis, 

 surrounded by the staminate spikes : these bore 



