so 



WILD FLOWERS 



leaves, and a long triangular flower-stalk, which bears a single 

 umbel of large white flowers ; below these are two membranous 

 leaves : the whole plant gives off a smell of garlic if crushed : it 

 is fairly common in damp woods, often 

 occurring in large patches : flowers in 

 early summer. 



43. Water-Lily, Castalia alba, Water- 

 lily family. The most striking of our 

 water plants : the large white flowers 

 appear on the surface of the water in 

 August : it is of interest to note that 

 the petals pass gradually into the 

 stamens : the seeds are liberated only 

 when the fruit rots away : the leaves 

 are large, floating, and rounded heart- 

 shaped. 



44. Mouse-ear, Cerastium vulgatum, 

 Pink family. An insignificant little 



weed of the garden, the field, and the roadside : the branches 

 of the stem are mostly prostrate, but some rise from the ground, 

 and these bear groups of small white flowers, the petals of which 



43. Water-Lily. 



44. Mouse-ear. 



4"). Chickweed. 



are almost hidden within the calyx: the leaves are in pairs, 

 lance-shaped, and, like the whole plant, more or less downy : 

 flowers almost the whole year through. 



45. CMckweed, Stellaria media, Pink family. A common 

 garden weed : the stem is much branched, and often reaches a 

 considerable length, trailing on the ground : the leaves are in 



