250 WILD FLOWERS. 



beauty in its inconspicuous and dimly- yellow flowers. 

 It is to be regretted that it is not more frequently 

 cultivated as an ornamental plant, as will, I think, 



WILD MADDER. Rubia periyrlna. 



be acknowledged by any one who remembers his 

 feelings of admiration on first discovering it grow- 

 ing wild. Perhaps the greatest objection to it in 

 gardens may arise from its losing not only its leaves 

 in winter, but also the greater part of its steins, 

 which, however, shoot out again into their fine, long, 

 trailing habit, very early in the succeeding summer. 

 In the middle ages madder was known by the 

 name of varantia, a word corrupted from veran- 

 tia, as being pre-eminently the genuine dye ; and 



