46 



WILD FLOWERS 



calyx : the plant is common in pastures, flowering in summer, 

 and is interesting because it attaches its roots to those of grasses, 

 and draws nourishment from these. 



86. Spotted Hemp-nettle, Gakopsis versicolor, Dead-nettle 



86. Spotted Hemp-nettle. 



87. Primrose. 



family. This is one of the most striking weeds of cultivated 

 ground, being specially abundant in potato and turnip fields : 

 it is at once distinguished by its tall (2 

 to 3 ft. high), square, branched stem, and 

 its large yellow, purple-spotted flowers, 

 with their 2-lipped corollas: the leaves 

 are ovate, with a narrow point and serrate 

 margin, and are borne in pairs : flowers 

 in autumn. 



87. Primrose, Primula vulgaris, Prim- 

 rose family. The primrose is one of our 

 most typical spring flowers: it is to be 

 found in all sorts of positions, from dry 

 sunny banks to damp woods, flowering as 

 1 early as March: the oblong, wrinkled leaves 

 form a rosette on the ground, from which 

 rise the flower-stalks, each with a single 

 flower : the flowers are of two kinds : in 

 one, called thrum-eyed, the little bunch 

 88. Loosestrife. of 5 stamens appears in the opening of 



the salver-shaped corolla: in the other, 



the pin-eyed, found on a different plant, the opening is closed 

 by thepinhead-like stigma : this is an adaptation to secure cross- 



