xiv FAMILIAR WILD FLOWERS. 



four-cleft. Flowers polygamous, the fertile flowers sometimes five- 

 cleft, in small axillary corymbs. Stamens four, inserted on corolla. 

 Style one, bi-partite. Ovary one. Stigmas two, capitate. Fruit, 

 dry, a two-lobed pericarp, indehiscent. Sterns erect, hairy, square, 

 herbaceous, slender. Leaves four in a ring, ovate, hairy on both sides. 

 Hedges, banks, and copses. April, May. Perennial. 



KNOT-GRASS, POLYGONUM AVICULARE. Nat. Ord, Polygo- 

 nacvae. Perianth five-partite, single, coloured, persistent. Stamens 

 inserted into base of perianth. Ovary superior, with three styles. 

 Stigmas entire. Flowers axillary. Achene wingless, triquetrous, 

 striate. Leaves with sheathing, two-lobed, scarious, stipules, lanceo- 

 late, alternate, entire. Stem jointed and branched, herbaceous, often 

 prostrate; very variable in appearance. Waste ground and rubbish- 

 heaps. May, June, July, August, September. Annual. 



MEADOW SAFFRON, COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE. Nat. Ord., 

 Melanthacece. Perianth tubular, rising from a spathe, petaloid, pale 

 purple, six -partite at summit, tube very long and attenuated. Sta- 

 mens six, perigynous. Ovary with three cells, many-seeded. Styles 

 three, thread-like, very long. Capsule three-valved. Leaves linear- 

 lanceolate, parallel-veined, sheathed at base, radical, eight or ten 

 inches long. Root bulbous. The leaves and fruit are developed in 

 the spring, and die away before the flowers appear. Meadows and 

 hedgerows. August, September, October. Perennial. 



FOOL'S PARSLEY, ^THUSA CYNAPIUM. Nat. Ord., Umbelli- 

 feree. Calyx adherent with ovary, five minute teeth. Corolla white, 

 of five unequal petals, the outer ones the largest ; petals obcordate, 

 with inflected points. Stamens five, inserted on fleshy disk. Styles 

 two, short. Flowers in terminal umbels of about twelve equal rays ; 

 involucre wanting ; partial involucre unilateral, of three linear, con- 

 spicuous, pendant leaves. Achenes two, combined, ovate or globose. 

 Leaves numerous, alternate, sheathing the stem, compound, glossy 

 giving unpleasant odour when bruised. Fields, gardens, waste ground, 

 and rubbish-heaps. July, August. Annual. 



BOG- ASPHODEL, NARTHECIUM OSSIFRAGUM. Nat. Ord., 

 Juncacetc. Perianth of six sepals, persistent, spreading, lanceolate, 



