284 



COMMON WEEDS 



1 1 to 2 inches in diameter, with five pale purple or 

 violet-red petals, and appear in June, July, and August. 

 The five green sepals are much longer and narrower 

 than the petals. The seed capsule is large, and con- 

 tains twenty or thirty rough black seeds, which are 

 nearly the size of grains of wheat, and for this reason 



FIG. 78. Corn Cockle (Agrostemma Githago L.), x about 

 i. Fruit enlarged. 



are separated from the cereal with difficulty. They are 

 bitter to the taste. 



The plant is harmful in three ways. In the first 

 place, it is a weed in the usual sense it grows where 

 it is not required and crowds the cultivated crop. 

 Secondly, the seeds may be ground up with wheat, 

 discolouring the flour, and imparting even to bread 

 when baked a greyish tint and disagreeable odour. 

 Thirdly, the seeds are of a poisonous character, the 



