26 FUMAEIACE2E BEEBEKIDACEJE. 



worts. We made an excursion last summer to see the magni- 

 ficent ruins of Fountains Abbey. There, in the garden of the 

 old monks, as well as in wild spots among the ruins, was 

 growing the yellow Fumitory (Fumaria liitea), as I remembered 

 to have seen it growing when I was a little child, and as it 

 probably grew centuries before. These plants have two sepals, 

 which fall off when the flower opens, and four petals, one or 

 two of which have little bags at the base, which seem like a 

 spur at the back of the flower. The flowers are arranged in an 

 irregular inclined spike, and light much-divided leaves grow 

 upon it in pairs. The Bulbous Fumitory is called a wild plant ; 

 but I have only seen it in old gardens. It has a bulbous root 

 and purple flowers. 



The common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis, Plate II., fig. 9), 

 is a familiar garden weed. The glaucous, much-divided leaves 

 resemble so closely those of the brilliant orange Eschscholtzia 

 that the young plants are often spared in mistake for the 

 welcome seedlings. Its flower is white, just tipped with pink 

 and green. Altogether it is very inexpressive. 



The Ramping Fumitory (F. claviculata), is the prettiest 

 member of the family. IN" ever shall I forget its graceful charm 

 as I first beheld it from the top of a coach passing through the 

 Trossacks. It was September, and we had wandered in vain 

 among the lovely scenery round Callander in search of alpine 

 plants. I had sorrowfully resigned myself to returning without 

 floral mementoes of that region of poetry and beauty, and in 

 this spirit I had ascended the coach to pass forward to the 

 Trossacks. A fellow traveller was reading aloud " The Lady 

 of the Lake," the Brig o' Turk was passed, and my eyes had 

 rested from the vain search for flowers, and were feasting on 

 Loch Achray and the hills beyond, when I espied a dainty 

 garland of tender green mixed with clusters of pale wax-like 

 blossoms. A humane friend procured me a quantity of the 

 plant, which proved to be the Ramping Fumitory. I know of 

 no medicinal or useful properties in these plants. 



