THE FLOWERS OF THE WATER-SIDE 



197 



BOG ASPHODEL. 



corolla. These are some of the 

 features which place the plant among 

 the Primulacete (the Primrose family). 

 The name Loosestrife is a transla- 

 tion of the word Lysimachia. Pliny 

 states that the name was given in 

 honour of a certain king Lysi- 

 machus, and he also adds that if 

 the plant be laid on a yoke of oxen, 

 when they are quarrelling, it will 

 cjuiet them and stoj) the strife ! 



BOG ASPHODEL 



The Bog Asphodel {Narthcciion 

 ossijragum) is a member of the Lily 

 family, and will be readily recog- 

 nised by its stiff, erect flowering 

 stem, about six or eight inches 

 high, bearing at the end a cluster 

 of bright yellow flowers. There are 

 six divisions of the perianth, all of 



them looking like petals, six stamens, 

 and a single pistil. The little stems 

 of the stamens, called filaments, arc 

 covered with white, woolly hairs ; 

 the leaves are short and grow near 

 the base of the plant. This little 

 plant is found abundantly in most 

 boggy places, and flowers during the 

 summer. 



WATER MINT 



The Water Mint {Mentha aqiiatica) 

 is a plant which possesses a strong 

 scent, by which it may readily be 

 recognised. This plant is generally 

 found growing in shallow water, 

 sencUng up soft, hairy items about 

 a foot high, ending in a more or 

 less globular head of lilac flowers ; a 

 few other head, also appear from 

 the axils of the upper leaves. If 



WATER .MLNT. 



