BORAGE TRIBE. 



439 



tiful. This is the commonest species of all. Fl. June 



August. Annual. 



VERsfcoLOR (Party -coloured Scorpion-grass). 



3. M. collina (Early Field Scorpion-grass). Calyx 

 covered with spreading hooked bristles, open when in 

 fruit ; cluster with a solitary flower in the axil of the 

 uppermost leaf. Dry banks, not uncommon, but fre- 

 quently overlooked in consequence of its minute size. 

 The whole plant rarely exceeds 3 inches in length ; the 

 stems usually spread near the ground, and terminate in 

 clusters of very minute bright blue flowers (never pink or 

 yellow). On its first appearance, in April, the flowers are 



