32 WILD FLOWERS 



furrow along its lower face : the flowers are of medium size, 

 and are gathered in loose, leafless spikes at the end of the 

 stems ; when the fruit is formed the flower-stalks bend down- 

 wards : a common weed of cultivated land, flowering in summer, 

 and emitting an evil stench, especially when wet with dew or 

 rain : it occurs in two varieties, the commoner of which has 

 frequently fewer stamens often only 5. 



49. Wintergreen, Pyrola minor, Heath family. The stem 

 is prostrate for a short distance, and bears several rounded oval 



49. Wintergreen. 



50. Arrowhead. 



leaves, then it bends sharply upwards, and ends in a slender 

 spike of drooping flowers, almost globular in shape, and in colour 

 white, with a shade of pink : a pretty summer flower, found in 

 woods and heaths. 



50. Arrowhead, Sagittaria sagittifolia, Water-plantain family. 

 A plant of English ditches and rivers : the leaves rise from the 

 water on long stalks, and are arrow-shaped: in the centre of 

 these is the tall flower-stalk, with a spike of large, white flowers, 

 some of which have only stamens, and others only seed-vessels : 

 many leaves remain submerged, and these possess only long 

 narrow stalks without blades : flowers in August. 



