MARSH-MARIGOLD. 17 



selves, because it is only in this way, and by slow steps, 

 that you can acquire a satisfactory knowledge of the 

 reasons which lie at the foundation of the classification of 

 plants. 



22. Marsh-Marigold. This plant grows in wet 

 places almost everywhere, and is in flower in early summer. 



Note the entire absence of hairs on the surface of the 

 plant. It is therefore glabrous. 



The root, like that of the Buttercup and of the He- 

 patica, is fibrous. 



The stem is hollow and furrowed. 



The foliage-leaves are of two kinds, as in the Butter- 

 cup. The radical leaves spring from the base of the 

 stem, whilst the higher ones are cauline. The leaves 

 are not lobed, as in the other two plants, but are in- 

 dented on the edge. They are also net-veined. 



23. Coming to the flower (Fig. 23) 

 we find a circle, or whorl, of bright 

 yellow leaves, looking a good deal 

 like the petals of the Buttercup, but 

 you will look in vain for the corres- 

 ponding sepals. In this case there 

 is no whorl of bracts to mislead you. 

 Are we to say, then, that there is no 

 calyx? If we adhere to the under- 

 standing mentioned when describing 

 the Hepatica, we must suppose the 

 corolla to be wanting, and then the 



bright yellow leaves of our plant will p^. 23. 



be the sepals, and Avill together constitute the calyx. As 



to the number of the sepals, you will find, as in the 



Fig. 2a Flower and leaf of Marsh-Marigold. 



