m 



FIELD AND WOODLAKD PLANTS 



the well-known and favourite Honeysuckle or Woodbine (Lonicera 

 periclpnenu7n), so highly prized on account of its lovely fragrant 

 flowers. It is a climbing plant, often reaching a height of ten or 

 twelve feet, supporting itself by twining its woody stem round 

 surrounding shrubs and trees in hedges and the open spaces of 



woods. The beautiful 

 flowers, which are yel- 

 low within, and more 

 or less tinged with red 

 outside, are arranged 

 in terminal, stalked 

 lieads; and the imited 

 petals form widel\'- 

 gaping lijjs. The ])lant 

 blooms from June to 

 September, and dis- 

 plays its crimson berries 

 in the autumn. 



Two other species 

 of Honeysuckle occur 

 in our hedges, but 

 neitlier of these is 

 common. One is the 

 Upright Honeysuckle, 

 which has an erect 

 stem ; downy, stalked 

 leaves; and pale yel- 

 low, scentless flowers 

 that grow in pairs in 

 the axils of the leaves. 

 The other is the 

 Perfoliate Honeysuckle, so called Ijecause its upper leaves are 

 united at their bases, with the stem running through them. In 

 this one the flower-heads have no stalks. 



In the Bedstraw family (order Rubiacece) we have two verj' 

 common, hedgerow plants — the Great Hedge Bedstraw (Galium 

 Mollugo) and the Goose-grass or Cleavers {O. Aparine). The first is 

 a very straggling plant, with a square stem, thickened at the joints, 

 tliat often reaches a length of four or five feet. Its leaves are 

 ollij)tical, witli apex terminating suddenly in a bristle-like point, 

 and margins roughened by prickles that are either at right angles 



The Great Hedge Bedstraw. 



