62 WILD FLOWERS 



130. Field Madder, Sherardia arvensis, Bed-straw family. A 

 pretty little plant of dry fields, flowering in summer : the stem 

 is lowly, and much branched : the leaves are lance-shaped, 

 pointed, and occur in whorls of 6 : at the tips of the branches 

 are little groups of small, starry, lilac flowers. 



131. Butterbur, Petasites officinalis, Daisy family. In April 

 the Butterbur sends up a thick flower-stalk, with a large hand- 

 some spike of purplish flower-heads : only when these are over 

 do the leaves appear ; they are rounded heart-shaped, with 

 scalloped edges, and, when they have attained their full size, 

 may measure a yard across ; the under surface is white with 

 down : not uncommon along stream sides and on marshy ground. 



130. Field Madder. 



131. Butterbur. 



132. Scottish Heather, Ling, Calluna vulgaris, Heath family. 

 Familiar to all is this inhabitant of the dry moors, which so 

 transforms miles of mountain country, when its pale purple 

 flowers appear in late summer : in size it varies from a little 

 shrub a few inches high to a large bush of 2 ft. and more : the 

 leaves are small, almost scale-like, and arranged in 4 rows on 

 the stem : the flowers are in fine terminal spikes : the pure 

 white variety is quite rare, but may be recognised even at a 

 distance by its paler, bright green leaves. 



133. Field Gentian, Gentiana campestris, Gentian family. A 

 little plant of dry heaths and grassy places on the hills, flowering 

 in autumn : the stem is usually about 6 ins. high, and often 

 branched : the leaves are in pairs, smooth, and broadly lance- 

 shaped : the flowers are fairly large, tubular, pale lilac, and 

 occur in groups at the tip of the stem. G. Amarella, the Felwort, 



