VI. MO^ACHA. 121 



anterior ones longer than the other three ! The capsule 

 may open by two, three, or four valves, or by pores ; 

 the seeds, generally numerous, are sometimes solitary, 

 and the leaves may be alternate, opposite, or verticillate. 

 19. Thus licentious in structure, they are also doubt- 

 ful in disposition. None that I know of are fragrant, 

 few useful, many more or less malignant, and some para- 

 sitic. The following piece of a friend's letter almost 

 makes me regret my rescue of them from the dark king- 

 dom of Kora : 



"... And I find that the Monacha Rosea (Red Rattle is its name, 

 besides the ugly one) is a perennial, and several of the other draconi- 

 dae, foxglove, etc. , are biennials, born this year, flowering and dying 

 next year, and the size of roots is generally proportioned to the life 

 of plants ; except when artificial cultivation develops the root special- 

 ly, as in turnips, etc. Several of the Draconidae are parasites, and 

 suck the roots of 'other plants, and have only just enough of their own 

 to catch with. The Yellow Rattle is one ; it clings to the roots of 

 the grasses and clovers, and no cultivation will make it thrive without 

 them. My authority for this last fact is Grant Allen ; but I have ob- 

 served for myself that the Yellow Rattle has very small white suck- 

 ing roots, and no earth sticking to them. The tooth worts and broom 

 rapes are Draconidae, I think, and wholly parasites. Can it be that 

 the Red Rattle is the one member of the family that has ' proper pride, 

 and is self supporting ' ? the others are mendicant orders. We had 

 what we choose to call the Dorcas flower show yesterday, and we gave, 

 as usual, prizes for wild flower bouquets. I tried to find out the lo- 

 cal names of several flowers, but they all seemed to be called ' I 

 don't know, ma'am.' I would not allow this name to suffice for the 

 red poppy, and I said ' This red flower must be called something tell 

 me what you call it ? ' A few of the audience answered ' Blind Eyes.' 



