88 FAMILIAR WILD FLOWERS. 



described, and the present species, we have the wood 

 scorpion-grass, the early field scorpion-grass, and the 

 changeable scorpion -grass. The first of these, the M. 

 sylvatica, is found in woods and shady places on the 

 mountains. It is not under any circumstances a common 

 plant, but appears to be more especially met with in 

 Scotland and the north of England, though such southern 

 localities as Essex and Kent are mentioned in the Floras 

 Its flowers are bright blue, and very large and handsome 

 looking. The early field scorpion-grass, or M. collina, is a 

 small annual that may sometimes be found in dry open 

 expanses, on the tops of walls, and other dry places. 

 Its small but brilliantly blue flowers expand in April and 

 May. The changeable scorpion-grass, or M. versicolor, may 

 be very commonly found on banks, in meadows, by road- 

 sides, and in fact almost anywhere : it derives its name from 

 the fact that its corollas are at first pale yellow, and gradu- 

 ally change to blue, until they become a quite deep cerulean 

 tint prior to their decay. The plants should be looked for 

 in April, May, and June. Sylvatica signifies that which 

 pertains to the sylvan shades ; collina refers to the dry hill- 

 side; while versicolor alludes to the varied and changing 

 tints seen in the blossoms of the species so-called. 



