BOG BEAN 29 



the stigma, which they touch only in long-styled forms, where they 

 have to thrust the head to reach the pollen, and visits to several of 

 these running cause illegitimate cross-pollination; and where it is more 

 effective than in short-styled forms, because probably the latter are 

 fewer and the former alone useful. It is visited by a Hymenopterous 

 insect, Pompilus, and the flies Empis, Eristalis, Rhingia. 



The capsule is 5-valved and many-seeded, and opens below, allow- 

 ing the seeds to fall out, and fall in the water to sink or float. 



As an aquatic plant it is not dependent on soil, but as a marsh plant 

 requires a peat soil. 



Hottonia, Boerhaave, was named after Pierre Hotton, a professor 

 at Leyden (d. 1709), and the second Latin name refers to its marshy 

 habitat. 



Water Violet is called Bog Featherfoil, Featherfoil, Water Gilli- 

 flower, Water Milfoil, Water Yarrow. The first name is in reference 

 to its feathery leaves. 



The roots consist of white capillary fibres, which strike deep into 

 the mud, and the leaves grow in tufts below the water, while just the 

 upper part of the stem rises above it. Water Violet is attractive 

 enough to be planted in ponds as an ornament. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



198. Hottonia palustris, L. Flowering stem a scape, leafless, erect, 

 leaves submerged, in whorls, pectinate, finely divided, flowers pink, lilac, 

 whorled, in racemes, terminal, corolla salver-shaped. 



Bog Bean (Menyanthes trifoliata, L.) 



Being strictly paludal this plant is one of those widely preserved in 

 ancient deposits, as in Preglacial beds in Norfolk, Early Glacial beds 

 in Norfolk, Interglacial beds at West Wittering, Late Glacial and 

 Neolithic deposits. To-day it is found in Arctic Europe, Siberia, 

 Dahuria, N. and W r . India, N. America, in the North Temperate and 

 Arctic Zones. It is found in every county of Great Britain except 

 Hunts, and it grows at 1800 ft. in the Lake District. 



The Bog Bean is a typical bog plant, growing only in the last 

 resorts of the wild-fowler to-day, and not rarely surviving the drainage 

 of its habitat wherever it grows. Damp hollows at the side of hills, 

 wet meadows bordering streams, and true bogs or marshes are the 

 places in which to search for this plant. 



The habit is more or less prostrate. The rootstock is matted, 

 stout, creeping. The stem is ascending, leafy, round in section. The 



