176 WILD FLOWERS. 



Its bright yellow flowers have found for It an 

 introdaction into our gardens, and several of 

 the species which we cultivate grow wild on 

 the few green spots which lie about the rocky 

 island of St. Helena. 



The common flea-bane, ( Inula dijsenterica, ) 

 a star- shaped flower, as large as a guinea, and 

 of as bright a hue, is very frequent now on 

 moist lands throughout England ; and we may 

 be sure, when we find this in our country walk, 

 that some quiet river, or stream, is gliding 

 through the landscape. This flower is com- 

 monly called wild marigold, and it received 

 both its familiar and scientific names from the 

 belief that its odour was repulsive to fleas, 

 gnats, and other insects. It seems strange that 

 it was considered as obnoxious to insects, and 

 worn about the person, or hung around the bed 

 as a terror to them, while, in our days, its effi- 

 ciency is totally denied. The Arabs extol this 

 plant very highly, as a remedy for wounds. 

 One of those traditions which a wandering 

 people transmit from generation to generation 

 records that this bruised flov/er was used by 

 Job, as an application to those grievous diseases 

 which he so pathetically laments. Hence the 

 flea-bane is called by the men of the desert 

 " Job's tears." Its stems and leaves are of a 

 woolly texture, and of a whitish-green colour. 



But directing our attention to the sandy 

 shores, or the salt-marshes of the sea, we shall 

 find a few autumnal flowers. The marsh mal- 

 low, {Althcp.a officinalis,) formerly called moor- 



