68 YELLOW TOADFLAX. 



The foliage of this plant has upon it that 

 sea-green bloom which the botanist calls the 

 glaucous tint, and, like some others of the 

 genus, it has a resemblance to the leaves of the 

 Flax ; hence the name from Linimi, Flax. Both 

 this and the wild species called the sharp- 

 pointed Fluellin, or Toadflax, which is frequent 

 on gravelly or chalky corn-fields in England, 

 were formerly used as a lotion to improve the 

 beauty of the skin, and a decoction is still 

 made for this purpose from the blossoms, and 

 has been recommended by some good authori- 

 ties. The juice mingled with milk is used to 

 poison flies, but probably, like many other 

 liquids used with this design, it attracts to the 

 spot a much larger number than it destroys. 



" And thou, Linaria, mingle in my wreath 

 Thy golden dragons, for though perfumed breath 

 Escapes not from thy yellow petals, yet 

 Glad thoughts bringest thou of hedge-row foliage, wet 

 With tears and dew ; lark warblings, and green ferns 

 O'erspanning crystal runnels, where there tui'ns 

 And twines the glossy Ivy." 



