THE HEATH, MOORLAND, AND MOUNTAIN. 181 



bloom until Juue. It grows but a few inches high 

 but its racemes of reddish flowers, varying sometimes 

 into purple and blue, are well known to the wanderers 

 in heathy pastures. In Gerarde's time this plant was 

 known as hedge hyssop, and sold as such. This little 

 plant was used in garlands to decorate the windows 

 during procession week. 



The star-shaped pink flower with thin golden anthers 

 of the Eed Ceutaury (Erythrcea centaurium) are well 

 known to the moorland wanderer. The flowers close 

 in damp weather, and about three o'clock in the after- 

 noon. Its bright green leaves and stem grow to above 

 a foot high. It is a very bitter plant, and appears 

 to have been used as a cure for indigestion. 



The Petty "Whin (Genista Anglica) blooms on its 

 spiny stem about midsummer. The Hairy Green- 

 wood (Genista pilosa) shows its yellow butterfly blos- 

 soms even earlier. Its folded ovate leaves are covered 

 beneath with a silky down, and the whole shrub has a 

 trailing habit, with a much-branched stem. The 

 flower-spikes are only a few inches long. The Dyer's 

 Broom (Genista tinctoria) loves a dry gravelly soil, 

 and has an upright bearing, with lance-shaped leaves,, 

 and, though common on heaths, it has no objection to 



