WILD FLOWERS yellow and orange 



yellow stamens are grouped delightfully around 

 the many small green pistils, forming the centre. 

 Five narrow, pointed sepals open widely and are 

 slightly curved and hairy, and pale yellow in colour. 

 The flowers expand considerably after the small, 

 round, green buds open, and when fully matured 

 some of them possess a delicate, though scarcely per- 

 ceptible fragrance. The basal leaves have long, 

 narrow, grooved stems, and form pretty, rounded and 

 slightly spreading tufts near the ground. They are 

 divided from three to seven times, and each division 

 is again cleft into numerous narrow parts, and sharply 

 pointed lobes. The veins show plainly, and the sur- 

 face is downy and soft to the touch. Their dark green 

 colour becomes lighter on the under side. The 

 fewer upper leaves are simply three-parted, and 

 clasp the stalk where it branches. It is common 

 practice afield to pluck a flower and carry it in the 

 mouth; but with the Buttercups this should be 

 avoided, as its acrid juice causes blisters to appear 

 on the lips and tongue. For this reason it is 

 known in some localities as the Blister Flower. 

 The generic name is derived from the Latin, rana, 

 a small frog, and was applied by Pliny because 

 some of the Crowfoots grew where the frogs abound. 



MARSH MARIGOLD. COWSLIP. MEADOW GOWAN 



Caltha palustris. Crowfoot Family. 



There is good reason to believe that our common 

 Marsh Marigold is of the same sort as that which was 



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