98 EOSACEJE. 



The Tormentil family succeeds that of the Cinquefoil. 

 There are only two British species ; these are distinguished 

 by having four petals, while the Cinquefoils have five. 



The common Tormentil (Tormentilla onicinalis), is a frequent 

 ornament of our pastures and moors ; its flowers resemble that 

 of the Spring Cinquefoil, except in the number of its petals. 



The Trailing Tormentil (T. reptans), is rare, but my sister 

 found it in Cumberland last autumn. It is very like the 

 common species but larger, its stems longer and more prostrate, 

 and its flowers of a greater size. 



The inhabitants of the Hebrides and Orkney Islands use 

 the roots of the common Tormentil for dyeing, preferring them 

 to oak bark. So much land has been destroyed by digging 

 for these roots, that the practice is now prohibited in some of 

 the islands. 



The Sibbaldia has a family to itself. It is a thick, bushy 

 plant, with prostrate stems, ternate leaves, and clusters of tiny 

 yellow flowers. It grows in the Highlands, and does not yet 

 grace our collection. 



The Marsh Cinquefoil (Comarum palustre, jig. 3), is larger 

 and stouter than most of the true Cinquefoils. It has dark 

 purple flowers, and its large sepals are tinged with purple. 

 I found it when I was staying in the vicinity of Victoria 

 Park, Manchester. We were walking to visit some dyeing 

 mills, and passed by fields and waste ground. I espied a pond 

 in one of these fields, and the fence being easy to climb I 

 surmounted it, telling my friends that I would meet them at 

 the further corner of the field. They watched me as they 

 would have done a Zoolu, or a Red Indian; while I, uncon- 

 scious how strange my conduct might appear to townspeople, 

 wandered round the pond, gathered the Marsh Cinquefoil on 

 its margin, and returned well satisfied to my companions. I 

 was immediately overwhelmed with questions " What do you 

 want that ugly flower for? How did you know it grew 

 there ?" "What is the use of such things?" It was impossible 



