OAK-LEAVED MOUNTAIN AVENS 



The flowers are large, with white petals, and, as indicated by the 

 second Latin name, these are eight in number. The sepals are long, 

 and covered with black, glandular hairs, like the scapes, which are also 

 hairy and glandular. 



This choice little plant is never more than 9 in. in height. It is 

 in flower in June, July, and August. It is a perennial and propagated 

 by division. One may find it in many rock-beds in the garden. 



The Mountain Avens is androdicecious. The hermaphrodite flowers 

 are usually feebly proterogynous 

 like Avens, the stigmas matur- 



ing first. The stigmas rise when 



the flower opens, are sometimes 

 covered over by the inner sta- 

 mens even for some time after 

 the outer anthers have opened, 1 

 and these flowers are proteran- 

 drous, the anthers ripening first. 

 The flowers are large and con- 

 tain honey, which is concealed. 



Long hairs are developed on 

 the fruit as a feathery down to 

 aid in dispersal by the wind. 

 The carpels are numerous. 



This handsome species is a 

 rock plant, being found only on 

 limestone rocks, and is there- 

 fore a lime-loving plant. 



A moth, Grapholitha com- 

 plana, is the only insect which 

 infests it. 



Dryas, Linnaeus, is from the Greek, drus, oak, to which its leaves 

 have a resemblance. The second Latin name refers to a characteristic 

 of the flower, which has 8 petals. 



The plant is called Mountain Avens and Wild Betony. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



96. Dryas octopetala, L. Stem decumbent, woody, leaves stalked, 

 downy white below, oblong, crenate, flowers white, petals 8, sepals 

 equal 8, achenes with feathery awn. 



1 The outer open first, and insect visitors touch the stigmas and anthers on either side, and establish 

 crossing. When no visitors occur the styles bend outwards and touch the inner anthers, and self-pollination 

 occurs from this cause and the later pendent position of the flower. 



Photo. Dr. Somerville Hastings 



OAK-LEAVED MOUNTAIN AVENS 

 (Dryas octopetala, L.) 



