io 4 FLOWERS OF LAKES, RIVERS, ETC. 



hermaphrodite flowerheads or gynomonoecious florets to the functional 

 female florets. The pappus of the female florets is abundant, and 

 adapts the achenes for wind dispersal. 



Butterbur is a clay-loving plant addicted to clay soil in moist 

 hollows or sandy loam. 



It is covered with the same pretty fungus as Coltsfoot, Coleo- 

 sporium sonchi. 



The moths, Botys alpinalis, the Butterbur, Hydrcscia petasitis, 

 Halonota turbidana, live on it. 



Petasites, Dioscorides, is from the Greek petasos, a large, broad- 

 brimmed hat, alluding to the foliage, and the second Latin name 

 refers to its medicinal use. 



It is called Batter Dock, Bog Rhubarb, Bogs Horns, Burn-blades, 

 'Butter-bur, Cap Dockin, Cleats, Kettle Dock, Water Docken, Dunnies, 

 Eldin, Eldin-docken, Ell-docken, Flapper Dock, Flea-dock, Gallon, 

 Gaun, Lagwort, Pestilence Wort, Poison Rhubarb, Son-before-the- 

 Father, Umbrella Leaves. It was called Pestilence Wort from a sup- 

 posed remedy it formed for pestilential fevers. The name Son-before- 

 the- Father is given because the flowers appear before the leaves. The 

 name Bog Rhubarb is applied because the leaves are like rhubarb. 

 It is called Bogs Horns because children use the hollow stalks as horns 

 or trumpets. The name Butter-bur is given because people in the 

 country wrapped butter in the large leaves. Eldin is a name given 

 because it was used as elden or fuel. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



164. Petasites officinalis, Moench. Soboliferous, leaves large, on 

 long furrowed stalks appearing after flowerheads, downy, orbicular, 

 reniform, flowerheads, lilac, in spike, plants dioecious. 



Marsh Ragwort (Senecio aquaticus, Hill) 



Fruits of this common paludal type have been found amongst others 

 in Interglacial deposits at West Wittering, Sussex. It is found in the 

 North Temperate Zone to-day in Europe and Siberia. It grows in 

 every part of Great Britain except N. Aberdeen, ascending to 1500 ft. 

 in the Lake district. 



Water Ragwort is a marsh plant, growing commonly in wet 

 meadows that are continually submerged. But it also grows by the 

 sides of lakes and rivers, and wherever there is water of a permanent 

 nature. In similar spots grow Great Water Chickweed, Marsh Thistle, 

 Water Mint, Alder, Crack Willow, and other hygrophytes. 



