304 



FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



licads are of a dull yellow colour, with leaflike bracts, arranged 

 in a branched corymb. The involucre bracts are linear and 

 reflexed, and the ray florets are inconspicuous. 



Two representatives of the order Gentianaccce are commonly 

 found on chalk hills and pastures ; they are the Field Gentian 

 {Gentiana campestris), and the PerfoUate Yellow-wort {Chlora 

 perfoliata or Bhickstonia perfoliala). The former is an erect plant, 

 from four to ten inches high, with a branclied stem ; opposite, 



sessile leaves ; and conspicuous, 

 bluish -purple flowers, bloom- 

 ing in August and September. 

 The calyx is cleft into four, 

 the two outer segments being 

 large and ovate. The corolla 

 is also four-cleft, and salver- 

 shaped. 



The Yellow-wort is an 

 erect, glaucous plant, with an 

 imbranched stem from six to 

 eighteen inches in height, and 

 l:)eautiful yellow flowers, from 

 four to nine in number, 

 arranged in a cyme. The 

 leaves are in widely-separated 

 pairs, vinited at theii- bases, so 

 that the stem penetrates them. 

 The calyx is deeply divided, 

 and the limbs of the corolla are 

 spreading. This plant flowers 

 from June to September. 

 Some species of Mullein {Verhascum) are particularly partial 

 to chalk and limestone districts. They are handsome plants, 

 })elonging to the order Scrophuhtriaceiv, rendered conspicuous 

 by their woolly leaves and spikes of yellow or white flowers. Tlie 

 Great Mullein ( V. Thapsus) is common on banks and roadsides, and 

 flowers from June to August. Its stem is stout, erect, very woolly, 

 and varies from two to five feet in height. The leaves are very 

 large and thick, and are so woolly on both sides that they resemble 

 flannel. The flowers form a large, dense, club-shaped spike. 

 Each has a corolla with five spreading lobes ; and five stamens, 

 with white hairs on theii' filaments, two longer than the other 



The Great Mullien. 



