56 



THE NATURE BOOK 



becomes pendent (as may be seen in the 

 photograph), probably to protect the 

 young seed from the wet ; as the fruit 

 ripens, the head once more becomes erect, 

 and the dandehon-hke seed is blown away 

 by the wind. The leaves appear after- 

 wards and are large and curiously angular 

 in shape ; beneath, they are covered with 

 a thick, woolly down. Pliny mentions 

 that the dried leaves and roots were 

 smoked through reeds, the smoke being 

 swallowed as a remedy for a cough — 

 whence the name Tiissilago {tiissis, a 

 cough). 



THE DAISY 



The Daisy {Bcllis perennis) is another 

 representative of the Com]")ound flowers ; 

 it is to be found blossoming more or less 



COLTSFOOl. 



throughout the year. This plant is too 

 well known to need any introduction ; 

 bv some writers the name is said to come 

 from the " day's eye," from its habit of 

 opening at sunrise and closing at sunset. 

 In Scotland it is frequently the " bairn- 

 wort," from its being especially beloved 

 by children ; " go wan " is also another 

 name by which it is known in the north. 

 The chief advantages in the arrange- 

 ment of the Composite flowers are : 

 firstly, that the flowers in being grouped 

 together are more conspicuous than they 

 otherwise would be ; secondly, that 

 insects are more readily attracted to 

 them because of the facility afforded of 

 collecting the honey ; and thirdly, that 

 the visits of insects are more likely to 

 ensure the transference 

 of pollen from the 

 many small male flowers 

 to the stigmas of the 

 other florets, and so 

 secure fertilisation. 



THE MALLOW 



Three different kinds 

 of i\Iallows are com- 

 monly to be met with 

 by the roadside, flower- 

 ing throughout the 

 summer. The most 

 striking of these is the 

 ;\Iusk Mallow {Malva 

 moschata), the flowers 

 being of a bright rose- 

 colour, crowded together 

 at the top of the stems 

 and branches. The five 

 wedge - shaped petals 

 will be seen to be jagged 

 at the ends, and there 

 are three small leaves, 

 called bracts, below the 

 five-toothed sepals ; in 

 the bud the petals are 

 curiously twisted. The 

 lower leaves are more 

 or less round, whilst 

 those on the stem are 

 deeply divided. In the 

 Common Mallow (M. 

 sylvesiris) the flowers 

 are of a reddish purple 

 colour, and are produced 

 in clusters springing 



