The Arnica 



(ARNICA MONTANA) 



A BRIGHT conspicuous plant is the Arnica, with its yellow 

 star-like flower-heads. It grows in meadows, pastures, and 

 on sunny moors, and is widely distributed in the Alps, from 

 the lower mountain regions up to 8000 feet. It is much 

 less common in limestone than in other districts. Four 

 broad green leaves grow from the root in the form of a 

 cross. In the centre of these rises the erect flower-stalk 

 some 8 or 9 inches long, and covered with glandular hairs. 

 On the flower-stalk are borne the one or two pairs of leaves, 

 without stalks, and arranged opposite to one another. The 

 flower-heads are drooping in the bud, but when they open they 

 are large and conspicuous and of a deep yellow colour. They 

 give forth a faint, resinous, not very pleasing, odour. The 

 outer or ray florets of the flower-head have long projecting 

 strap-shaped petals. Their purpose is to attract insects to 

 the floral society, and the less conspicuous florets in the 

 centre of the flower-head produce just as good seeds. At 

 first but a single flower-head is formed, but later on, if the 

 plant is vigorous, buds appear in the axils of the opposite 

 stem-leaves, and two more flower-heads appear. This is 

 what has happened in the two specimens here photographed, 

 and a second pair of buds is seen in one of them. It is 

 interesting to note that a mould-like fungus is found con- 



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