218 ATJTTJMtf WILD FLOWERS. 



milky juice. The leaves are said to be eaten for 

 salad on the continent, but in England they are only 

 used to feed domestic animals and pets. 



Sometimes, in the course of the summer, the thin 

 thread-like stems of the Strangle "Weed, or Dodder, 

 make their appearance in the clover-field, or disport 

 by the hedge -side amongst the nettles. The latter 

 is the Great Dodder (Cuscuta Europcea), and the 

 Lesser Dodder (G. epifhymwn) frequently kills whole 

 fields of clover. Both plants are parasitic, and spread 

 with great rapidity from plant to plant, leaving their 

 red threads round the stem, and at intervals show 

 small clusters of minute pink flowers, which at first 

 look like beads, but soon open and ripen their seeds. 



The dark green moss-like tufts of the Camomile 

 (Anihemis nobilis) spread along the ground, and in 

 August send up their star-like flower from the com- 

 mons, where it flourishes ; and, as it is trodden on, 

 gives out its aromatic odour and grows the faster. 

 The camomile of the corn-field is the Stinking Camo- 

 mile (Anihemis cotuld). It carries its head high. Its 

 leaves are smooth, and not downy like the camomile. 

 Its daisy-like flower might be mistaken for the ox-eye. 



The White Campion (Lychnis vespertina) some- 



