128 FLOWERS OF LAKES, RIVERS, ETC. 



Scutellaria is from the Latin scutella, a shield, from the shape of 

 the calyx, and the second Latin name refers to the helmet-shaped 

 corolla. 



The plant is called Hooded Willow Herb as well as Skull-cap, both 

 alluding to the shape of the upper lip. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



254. Scutellaria galericulata, L. Stem erect, stout, leaves ovate, 

 serrate, cordate below, flowers blue and white, opposite, axillary, the 

 tube exceeding the calyx. 



Amphibious Knotgrass (Polygonum amphibium, L.) 



Though it is unknown in any ancient deposits in Britain this 

 ubiquitous plant is known in S. Sweden. At the present time it is 

 found in the N. Temperate and Arctic regions. It is found every- 

 where in Great Britain except in Cardigan and Merioneth, as far 

 north as the Shetlands, and in Ireland and the Channel Islands. 



As the specific name implies, this plant grows both in water and on 

 land, being by nature really aquatic or a hydrophyte, but taking, when 

 so driven, to a terrestrial habitat, when it passes through a hygro- 

 philous state, growing in damp situations, to a sometimes quite dry 

 habitat, where it becomes a xerophyte. When aquatic it is smooth, 

 when terrestrial it is extremely hirsute, and seldom flowers. It is found 

 in rivers, brooks, ponds, pools, and when found on land its occurrence 

 denotes the former existence of some pool or ditch, since drained. 



When growing in water it is prostrate or floating, the flower-stalks, 

 however, being erect; but on land the whole plant, from a creeping, 

 fibrous, long root, is erect. The root is reddish-brown. The leaves 

 are stalked, heart-shaped, lance-shapecl, hairy or smooth, rigid, some- 

 times spotted, alternate and spreading. The ocreae or membranous 

 stipules are large, closely pressed, blunt. 



The flowers are apetalous, with no corolla, bright-pink, in solitary, 

 terminal racemes, dense, on hairy flower-stalks, which are paired. The 

 calyx is pedicellate, 5-partite, with oval, blunt segments. The seeds 

 are glossy and flattened at the margin. There are 5 stamens and 

 2 styles. 



Amphibious Knotgrass is 1-2 ft. high. The flowers bloom in June 

 till August. The plant is perennial, and freely propagated by roots. 



The stigma is projecting one-fifth, allowing ants to get honey with- 

 out pollinating it. The honey is plentiful, situated in 5 yellow glands 

 at the base of the ovary, and the flowers conspicuous. The stamens 



