44 FAMILIAR WILD FLOWERS. 



no shelter. In all the other species of willow-herb the 

 flowers are regular, all four petals being alike in form and 

 size; but in the rose-bay they are slightly irregular, a 

 feature that will, therefore, in itself be sufficient to identify 

 the species. It is a doubtful native, but its root is very 

 brittle, and as every little piece will grow it may easily get 

 accidentally spread, while the tufted seeds of this, as of all 

 the other species, are scattered far and wide by the passing 

 breeze. 



Other common species are the small-flowered hairy 

 willow-herb (E. parviflorum] , and the broad smooth-leaved 

 willow-herb (E. montanum). The first of these is ordinarily 

 found in moist situations, the second on dry banks, old 

 walls, the thatch of cottage roofs. Both flower as summer 

 passes into autumn. The square-stalked willow-herb (E. 

 tetragonum) is frequently found in moist situations. All 

 the willow-herbs have their blossoms of a more or less deep 

 tint of red. 



