28 



cleft at the edge, and swelled on one side of the base. The 

 leaves are opposite, and all very deeply cut or divided. The 

 seed is very beautiful, and affords a proof in how wonderful a 

 manner the Great Creator has provided for the wants even of 

 a simple plant. The calyx is at first so small as to be scarcely 

 visible, but by degrees expands into a beautiful feathery head, 

 or pappus, that remains at first carefully coiled up ; but when 

 the seed is ripe, and the weather fine, the feathers expand like 

 the ribs of a parasol, and the seed is carried away by the wind, 

 until it finds some fit resting place, when the crown falls off, 

 and the seed directly begins to grow. The root is rather sweet 

 in smell, but bitter in taste. Cats and rats are said to be very 

 fond of the scent. The whole plant is quite smooth, and is 

 useful in medicine ; for this reason it is called Valerian, which 

 means to cure or to be well. 



O. S. Small Marsh Valerian and Heart-leaved Valerian, The former 

 has stamens in one plant and styles in another. The last, a fine tall plant, 

 is confined to the woods of Scotland. 



CORN SALAD. FEDIA. 



COMMON CORN SALAD. Fedia olitoria. 

 Plate I, fig. 11. 



This, the only common species, is very early in the time of 

 its flowering, appearing on walls and banks, and still more 

 often in corn fields, in March and April. Lambs are very fond 

 of it ; hence it is sometimes called Lamb's Lettuce, and is 

 also often grown in gardens as a salad. It is a small, branched, 

 smooth, juicy plant, bearing numerous heads of minute, but 

 beautiful bluish flowers. Leaves tongue-shaped, a little toothed. 

 The round capsule is smooth, like the rest of the plant. 



O.S. Narrow Fruited Corn Salad and Sharp Fruited Corn Salad. The 

 last is very rare. 



CORN FLAG. IRIS. 



WATER IRIS. Iris pseudacorus. 



Plate I, fig. 12. 



The Iris, Flag, or Flower de Luce, the emblem of France, 

 is named after the many-colored rainbow. 



