BROWN FLOWERS 



81 



The tall (2 to 4 ft.) stem is markedly square, and bearspairsof large, 

 ovate, serrate leaves ; it is thickened at the points where these 



180. Knotted Fig wort. 



181. Ribwort. 



arise : the flowers are small, roundish, and rich brown and green, 

 in colour : common in moist shady places, flowering in summer. 



181. Ribwort, Plantago lanceolata, Plantain family. A 

 familiar weed 'of road-sides and grassy 



places : from the rosette of long, ribbed, 

 lance-shaped leaves spring several flower- 

 stalks, from 3 ins. to 1 ft. high : each 

 bears a single head of small flowers, 

 which is dark brown or black in colour, 

 except when the flowers are fully open, 

 when it takes on a greyish or yellowish 

 tinge: the Carl-Doddie of Scottish chil- 

 dren,fromits use in an ancient war-game of 

 Charles against George: flowers in summer. 



182. Common Bush, Juncus communis, 

 Rush family. The short creeping stock 

 gives rise to long, slender, cylindri- 

 cal, green stems about 2 ft. high and 

 sharply pointed : at the base of these are 

 2 to 3 sheaths, which represent the 

 leaves : the stems are soft, and filled with 

 a white pith, which is used even to-day 



as a lamp -wick : some of the stems are barren, but from near 

 the apex of others springs a dense, round head of brown flowers : 

 flowers in summer on marshy ground. 



182. Common Hush. 



