BY THE EIVEIl AND THE STREAMLET. 189 



somewhat similar, but the whorled leaves are pointed, 

 and the stem may be taken to pieces in sections. The 

 fructification is in a cone at the top of the stem. The 

 horsetail is frequently found in railway cuttings, and 

 on a poor dry sandy soil, as well as by the ditch-side. 

 The common name is pewterwort, and indicates the old 

 use of them for scouring pewter. The Water Milfoil, 

 too (Mi/riophyUumspicatum), which occasionally shows 

 its green leafless spike of flowers above the surface of 

 the water, has its foliage arranged in a whorl of four 

 leaves, which are always submerged. 



The somewhat common Water Plantain (Alisma 

 plantago) blooms in July near the bank in the river. 

 Its strongly-ribbed leaves closely resemble the Com- 

 mon Plantain, but its flowers are pink and three- 

 petalled, growing in clusters on a much-branched, 

 bluntly triangular stem. The roots are wholesome. 



There are two or three umbelliferous aquatic plants 

 which ought to be avoided, which bloom in the summer 

 months. The Hemlock Water Dropwort ((EnantJte 

 crocata), which rears its tall head two or three feet 

 high, and bears umbels of whitish flowers, is a most 

 deadly poison. Its root is tuberous, and its foliage is 

 something like celery. It is not so easil 



