IN THE CORN FIELD 



289 



Coming now to the order Garijophyllncece we have to note the 

 pretty Corn Cockle [Lychnis Githago), which is commonly seen 

 in the midst of the corn, often growing so tall that its j^ale purple 

 flowers peeja above the ears. Its stem is clothed with long, soft, 

 white hairs ; and the leaves are all long, narrow and entire. 

 The flowers, which appear during July and August, are usually over 

 an inch in diameter, and are solitary on long, leafless peduncles. 

 This flower appears 



on Plate VII. 



The same order in- 

 cludes the Corn 

 Spurrey (Spergnla 

 arvensis), a low, pro- 

 cumbent plant, with 

 small, white flowers 

 that bloom from June 

 to August. Its slender 

 stem varies from six to 

 eighteen inches long, 

 and the narrow, 

 whorled leaves from 

 one to two inches. 

 The flowers are only a 

 quarter of an inch in 

 diameter, with sepals 

 usually a little shorter 

 than the petals. 



In the order Lina- 

 cece we have the Com- 

 mon Flax or Linseed 

 {Linum usitatissimum), which is cultivated in some districts, and 

 often appears as a weed in fields. It is an erect, smooth plant, with 

 a slender stem about a foot high, and very narrow, entire, acute 

 leaves, about an inch long. The flowers are in a loose, terminal 

 corymb, and have five acute sepals ; five bright blue petals over 

 half an inch long, which fall early ; five perfect and five imperfect 

 stamens ; and an ovary \nth five styles. It flowers during July. 

 (See Plate VII.) 



The Shepherd's Needle orVenus'sComb {Scandix Pecten- Veneris) 

 of the order Umhelliferce derives its name from the long, flat, needle- 

 like beaks of the fruits that are placed almost parallel like the teeth 



THE CORN Spurrey. 



