168 WILD FLOWERS. 



obtained from it. Linnseus remarked, of this 

 flower, that its spike of bloom always follows 

 the course of the sun, even on a cloudy day : 

 turning, at sun-rise, to the east ; at noon-day, 

 looking up to the south ; in the afternoon, 

 marking the west ; and, with its half-closed 

 flowers, standing at night, pointing didy to the 

 north. It is very similar in appearance to 

 that sweetly-fragrant plant, the garden migno- 

 nette, {Reseda odorata.) This latter flower is 

 a native of Egypt, and was known, long after its 

 introduction into England, by the name of the 

 Egyptian's mignonette. 



The tansy (Tanacetiim vnlgare) grows wild 

 in some fields. It was formely called Athanasia 

 by botanists, and the French still dedicate it 

 to the saint of that name. The flowers ot 

 the tansy are in thick yellow clusters. Its 

 strongly aromatic and bitter principle render it 

 a useful plant in medicine ; and its young leaves 

 are made into puddings, cakes, and omelets, 

 though the flavour is too strong to be generally 

 palatable. A distilled water is obtained from 

 this plant. This flower was formerly very ge- 

 neral in gardens, but is left now for the cottage- 

 ground, where, in the rustic plot, it still takes 

 its place with the flowers which the poet Clare 

 describes, — 



" And where the marjoram once, and sage and rue, 

 And bahn and mint, with curl'd-leaf parsley grew, 

 And double marigolds, and silver thyme. 

 And pumpkins 'neath the window used to climb ; 

 And where i often, when a child, for hours 

 Tried through the pales to get the tempting flowers ; 



