442 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



our rivers, the yellow iris is generally to be found, 

 and very beautiful and bright are its blossoms. 

 There is a saying that ( no bouquet is complete 

 without some yellow in its composition,' and such 

 may be also observed of the flowers which deck 

 our fields and hedgerows. The yellow iris is, 

 perhaps, seen at its best when growing on the 

 margin of some river-bend or still backwater in 

 which the reflection of its graceful stems, sur- 

 mounted by their brilliant, yellow blossoms, is 

 mirrored in the stream. Beautiful as it is, it fades 

 so rapidly when gathered as to be useless for 

 decorative purposes, and so it may as well be 

 spared to grace the riverside. 



This flower is also called the fleur-de-lis or 

 flag- flower ; it is from the Iris florentina that 

 iris, or, as it is corruptly termed, orris-root, is 

 procured. The root of the iris, when chewed, 

 is said to cure toothache, and to be a powerful 

 astringent. The seeds of this plant, when roasted, 

 are also stated to be a substitute for coffee. 



The purple loosestrife is common by the sides 

 of most of our English streams. It is often con- 

 founded with the willow-herb ; but a comparison 

 of the two plants will at once suffice to show the 

 differences which exist between them, not only in 

 the shape and colour of the blossoms, but also in 

 their arrangement, those of the purple loosestrife 

 being more truly purple, more compactly arranged, 

 and smaller than those of the willow-herb, whilst 

 the long spike of blossoms is pyramidal in its form ; 



