7 4 FLOWERS OF THE FIELDS AND MEADOWS 



are egg-shaped, toothed. The capsules are included in the expanded 

 calyx, and the seeds rattle about when ripe (hence the English name). 



Yellow Rattle is 18 in. high. The flowers open in July and August. 

 The plant is an annual propagated by seeds. 



The anthers open widely, lie close to each other, and form enclosed 

 in the upper lip a pollen reservoir. When this is penetrated by an 

 insect pollen falls on the bee's head. The honey lies deep in the tube 

 near the ovary on the receptacle, and the tube mouth is narrow. The 

 two anthers-stalks situated forward lie close together and are clothed 

 with pointed hairs on the inner side, so that the bee cannot insert its 

 proboscis between them at that point, but where they are smooth. 

 The bee, pressing the filaments back, shakes the anthers and dusts 

 itself with pollen. The hairs prevent the pollen from being scattered. 



There are two forms, one large-flowered form being cross-pollinated ; 

 the other, smaller, is self-pollinated. Yellow Rattle is visited by Bombus, 

 and short-lipped insects cannot reach the honey. 



The seeds are provided with a broad wing which aids their dis- 

 persal by the wind. 



Parasitic on grasses, Yellow Rattle is a clay plant, and generally 

 indicates by its presence poor clay soil. 



The fungi Ephelina radicalis, Yellow Rattle root knot, and Coleo- 

 sporium Euphrasia attack it. 



Two moths also infest it, Emmelesia (Lygris) albnlata, grass rivulet, 

 Botys fusialis. 



Rhinanthus, L., is from the Greek rhinos, nose, anthos, flower, 

 from the shape of the upper lip of the corolla; Crista-Galli, Dodonaeus, 

 is the Latin for crest of a cock, in allusion to the shape of the calyx. 



It is called Clock, Cock-grass, Cock's-comb, Cow-wheat, Dog's 

 Siller, Fiddle-cases, Gowk's Sixpence, (Penny, Rattle) Grass, Hen 

 Pen, Hen's Combs, Honeysuckle, Horse Pens, Locusts, Meadow 

 Rattle, Money, Money-grass, Pence, Henny Penny, Penny Rattle, 

 Penny Weed, Rattle, Rattle-bags, Rattle-box, Rattle-penny, Rottle 

 Penny, Snaffles, Yellow Rattle. 



This plant is called Rattle-penny and Money from its dry calyces 

 rattling when shaken, and the shape of its round flat capsules. Gowk's 

 Sixpence is the name conferred also from the shape of the capsules, and 

 Gowk's Siller because, like the fool, it is unable to conceal its wealth. 



Hen Pen is of double origin, the first from the shape of the calyx, 

 the second from the flat seeds, like pennies. Yellow Rattle was called 

 Locusts because in N. Bucks it was supposed to have been the food of 

 St. John the Baptist. It was dedicated to St. Peter. 



