FLOWERS AND GRASSES. 73 



called "witches' thimbles," is a plant of heaths and 

 open places, 



" The hare-bell that, for her stainless azure blue, 

 Claims to be worn of none but those who are true." 



Heathy woods in the north are often sprinkled with 

 patches of the spreading, tough, wiry stems and ever- 

 green leaves of the red Whortleberry. 1 The little 

 pendant flowers, of a pale pink colour, grow in small 

 clusters, and are succeeded by a shining succulent 

 black berry, which may be made into tarts, and are 

 said to be sometimes sold as cranberries. The 

 bright green leaves of this plant somewhat resemble 

 those of the box, and the flowers are not unlike those 

 of some kinds of " heath." Another species is much 

 more common in similar situations in the south. 

 This is the 'Bilberry, 2 often seen in large patches 

 covering the ground in woods, as in the neighbour- 

 hood of Shere in Surrey, and other places. The 

 flowers resemble those of the whortleberry, but grow 

 singly, and the leaves are deciduous. The berries 

 also are edible. These two are, properly speaking, 

 miniature shrubs. 



One of the most conspicuous plants in the Kentish 

 woods, and not uncommon throughout the country, 

 is the Foxglove, 3 well known in gardens. The tall 

 spikes of thimble-shaped purple flowers make it an 

 imposing object wherever it 



" Rears its pyramid of bells 

 Gloriously freckled, purple and white.'* 



1 Vaccinium vitis Idcea. 3 Digitalis purpurta. 



2 Vaccinium myrtillus. 



