82 



FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



weed is easily distinguislicd from all tlu> oilier plants of (ho order by 

 the form of the fruit, which is triangular and inversely heart-shaped. 

 When ripe, it splits into two boat-shaped, keeled valves, which 



separate from a 

 central mem- 

 brane to which 

 the seeds are 

 attached. 



The Common 

 Scurvy Grass 

 { C o c Ji I e (I r i a 

 officinalis) is to 

 be found chiefly 

 on the sea shore, 

 but it often ex- 

 tends for miles 

 inland, especi- 

 ally along the 

 banks of the es- 

 tuai-ies of rivers. 

 It is a smooth, 

 succulent plant, 

 from foiu' to 

 eight inches 

 high. The little 

 white flowers 

 have S2:)reading 

 petals, and are 

 arranged in a 

 short raceme ; 

 and the fruit is 

 globular or oval, 

 nearly a quarter 

 of an inch long, 

 pointed at the 

 top, with several 

 This plant commences to flower in May, and 



The shepherd's Purse. 



seeds in each cell. 



continues in bloom until August. 



The Common Whitlow Grass [Draha vcrna) is a very small and 

 inconspicuous plant, abundant on banks and hedgerows, bearing 

 minute, white flowers in April and May. It has a cluster of narrow, 



