SCORPION GRASS 113 



Yellow Loosestrife. Pollen may fall on the stigma and self-pollination 

 may result. The capsule splits up into five valves, and the seeds are 

 thrown out from the fruit by the wind. 



Creeping Jenny is more or less a clay-loving plant, and addicted 

 to a clay soil in which there is some humus. Though it grows largely 

 in woods it is also found in marshy tracts. 



There are no insect or fungal pests. 



Nummularia, Dodonaeus, is from the Latin nummus, coin, from the 

 shape of the leaves. 



This graceful plant is known by the name of Creeping Jenny, 

 Twopenny Grass, Herb Twopence, Meadow-runagates, Money- wort, 

 Motherwort, Strings of Sovereigns, Twopence, Wandering Jenny, 

 Wandering Sailor. Turner invented the name Herb Twopence, " be- 

 cause it hath two and two leaves standing together of ech syde of the 

 stalke lyke pence ". 



Fable has it that it attracted serpents, and they were said to 

 heal themselves with it when wounded, perhaps because of its trailing 

 serpentine growth (by Doctrine of Signatures). It is commonly culti- 

 vated in gardens but seldom produces seed. The leaves have a 

 slightly astringent taste or are slightly acid. They used to be recom- 

 mended for scurvy and other diseases of the blood. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



202. Lysimachia Nummularia, L. Stem prostrate, creeping, leaves 

 shiny, orbicular, shortly petioled, flowers large, yellow, solitary, axillary, 

 filaments connected at the base, glandular. 



Scorpion Grass (Myosotis scorpioides, L.) 



Though this is one of the Arctic types it has not been found in 

 association with those found in ancient deposits so far. In the North 

 Temperate and Arctic Zones it is found in Arctic Europe, Siberia, 

 Dahuria, and has been introduced in N. America. In Great Britain 

 it is found in the Peninsula, Channel, Thames, Anglia, and Severn 

 provinces. In S. Wales it is not found in Radnor or Cardigan; in 

 N. Wales only in Carnarvon, Flint, Anglesea; throughout the Trent, 

 Mersey, H umber, Tyne, and Lakes provinces, and in W. Lowlands; 

 in E. Lowlands, except Peebles, Selkirk; in the E. Highlands, except 

 in Stirling, Banff, Elgin; in the W. Highlands, not in Cantire, Mid or 

 N. Ebudes; in E. Ross and Caithness, in N. Highlands; or from 

 Aberdeen southwards. In the North, Myosotis repcns has been con- 

 fused with this, which is there rare. 



VOL. IV. 54 



