190 WILD FLOWERS OF SUMMER. 



as the Tubular Dropwort (CEnanfhe fistulosa) , which 

 has also white umbels, but whose stem and branches 

 are hollow. Sometimes mistakes are made by water- 

 cress gatherers in taking the leaves of the Water 

 Parsnip (Sium latifolium) another dangerous umbel- 

 liferous plant for the watercress. It is well to bear 

 in mind that in the watercress the terminal leaf is 

 rounder and larger than the rest ; in the water parsnip 

 it is not only smaller than the rest, but it is deeply 

 serrated. This is fortunately rare. 



Some of the "Willow Herbs (Epiloliiwn) make a 

 great show by the river-sides, by the streamlets, and 

 occasionally they are found in great quantities in damp 

 ditches. Thegeranium-tinted flowers, willow-likeleaves, 

 and thick stems of the hairy Willow Herb (Epildbium 

 hirsutum) cannot be mistaken. Children called it cod- 

 lins-and-cream ; but its sweet scent is rather sickly. 

 The flowers are seated on long pods, which contain a 

 number of seeds, tufted with cottony down. There is 

 a small-leaved variety (JE. parviflorum) which is also 

 common. The Eosebay Willow Herb (E. augusti- 

 folivm) is not common in England, but is frequent by 

 the side of Highland streams. There is also a square- 

 stalked variety common near streams. The Smooth- 



