86 WILD FLOWEBS OF SPBIHG. 



Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) is the one used for 

 early greens, " nettle beer," nettle porridge, and other 

 rural dainties. Its greyish-green flowers, ovate ser- 

 rated leaves, and sharp sting, are well known. The 

 Little Nettle (Urtica urens) is a much brighter- 

 looking plant: the leavss have five nearly parallel 

 ribs. The great Eoman Nettle (Urtica pilulifera) 

 may be distinguished by its clusters of green globose 

 fruits, as large as blackberries. It is not so common 

 as the two other varieties, but its sting is very viru- 

 lent. The roots of all the species boiled with alum 

 make a yellow dye. 



Ere the flowers of the nettle have departed, the 

 grey leaves of the sullen-looking Borage (Borago 

 officinalis) rear themselves in out-of-the-way places. 

 The rough foliage hides its azure flowers, whose white 

 eyes are in direct contrast to the prominent purple 

 stamens. Eough as the borage is, but few plants 

 have been more popular. Its young shoots have been 

 eaten with salad and pickled. Its leaves form still 

 an ingredient in " claret-cup " and " cool tankard." 

 Formerly every gardener cultivated it ; now its glory 

 is departed, a few plants only being kept near the 

 apiary for the bees. 



