152 RUBIACEJE. 



at the end of its climbing stems. It grows in the ditches about 

 Clevedon, clinging to the tall water plants. 



The Yellow Bedstraw (G-. verurn, Plate X.,fig. 6), grows on 

 the borders of fields and lanes, and about heaths everywhere. 

 Its scent of honey is nearly as strong as that of the Crosswort, 

 but its leaves are very small and narrow, and of a dark green ; 

 each whorl contains eight. The flower-cluster is very large, 

 and much branched, forming the principal part of the plant, 

 the colour deep yellow. 



The great Hedge Bedstraw (G-. molhigo), is the handsomest 

 species. One day when we were driving along the Great 

 North-road, we were attracted by sheets of feathery whiteness 

 on the hedge. We stopped, and I left the carriage, returning 

 with branches of this beautiful plant. This was near Rich- 

 mond, in Yorkshire, and I see that Edward has specimens 

 from Kent. 



The pretty Heath Bedstraw (G. saxatile), is a charming 

 ornament of our woods and moors ; many a rock is half covered 

 with its thickly-set clusters of white blossoms. Its leaves are 

 six in a whorl. The plant is prostrate, and much branched, 

 but only three or four inches long. The seeds are grained, and 

 tinged with crimson. 



Edward has the Water Bedstraw, as well as the great Hedge 

 Bedstraw, from the neighbourhood of Hawkhurst. It is a 

 weak plant, with very small white flowers, and leaves four in a 

 whorl. 



The Goose-grass (G. aparine), has its leaves eight in a whorl, 

 and its inconspicuous flowers are arranged in a small cluster, 

 which springs from the axil of the leaf. Every part of it is 

 beset with hooked bristles ; it adheres by these to everything it 

 touches, and is hence called by some " Cleavers." This habit 

 makes it a favourite with mischievous children, who slyly 

 attach portions of it to the dress of those they wish to torment. 

 As little children, we used to push pins' heads into the pretty 

 round bristly seed, and thus make " fancy pins." 



