BRITISH WILD FLOWERS 21 



in families and orders. If we look at the shapes 

 of the blossoms we find some are like a bell 

 and others like an insect. This one is round, 

 or salver-shaped, and that is fashioned like a 

 thimble. When we study the colours we observe 

 that there is the same infinite variety. We 

 have the peculiar yellow of the primrose (Fig. i) 

 and the scarlet of the pimpernel (55). The 

 flaming colour of the poppy (Plate I) is opposed 

 to the dazzling whiteness of the water lily 

 (Plate II). We have large numbers of yellow, 

 white, and blue flowers ; but even greater 

 numbers are marked with variations in patches, 

 spots, lines, and patterns. 



Some plants creep, or send out suckers or 

 stolons ; while others have tendrils, hooks, and 

 feelers, by means of which they climb and 

 ramble. If we dig up specimens we observe 

 that some have corms, tubers, and rhizomes, 

 while others have scales or fibres. We are 

 struck by the varying number of sepals and 

 petals, of stamens and pistils, the solitary blossom 

 here, the mass of flowers there. Some droop, 

 others are erect ; these are in broad umbels, 

 those in spikes, tassels, clusters, or panicles. 

 While the larger number of flowers open by 

 day, some are most conspicuous at night, and 

 many open and close at regular hours. The 

 goat's-beard, pimpernel (55) or poor man's 

 weather-glass, and evening campion are well- 



