284 



THE NATURE BOOK 



places ; the one shown u\ the photograph 

 is the Germander Speedwell (]'crouica 

 Chamccdrys), which flowers during May 

 and June, and possibly for a httle longer. 

 These plants will be readily recognised 

 by the bright blue flowers which tumble 

 ott under almost any pretext. The stamens 



CUCKOO FLOWER 



The Lady's Smock, or Cuckoo Flower 

 {Cardaminc pratcnsis), as the old herbalist 

 Gerarde says, " flowers in April and May, 

 when the Cuckowe doth begin to sing her 

 }-)leasant notes without stammering." The 

 flrst name is due to the likeness borne by 







THE COWSLIP. 



of this genus are reduced in number to 

 two (the majority of the family of Scrophii- 

 larinete have four), and project somewhat. 

 They are visited largely by the yellow- 

 banded Hover-flies, which hover over a 

 flower and then dart off hke lightning to 

 another spot. Probably the stamens act as 

 a support to the body of the fly as it hovers 

 and sucks uj) the honey ; the pollen will 

 naturally cling to the abdomen, and be 

 transferred to the stigma of another flower 

 which sticks out in a straight position ; 

 any larger number of stamens would only 

 hz in the way. The name Veronica is 

 of doubtful origin ; possibly these plants 

 were named after St. \'cronica, a saint 

 of the Romish Churc h. Pjird's Eve comes 

 from the bright blue colour, and S])ee(l- 

 well from the flighty disposition of the 

 blossoms. T(Jurnefort's Speedwell, a trail- 

 ing j)lant with large blue flowers, is a 

 commfjn weed, but it is not really a native. 



the i)endulous white flowers to little smocks 

 hung out to dry, as they used to be at this 

 time of the year for bleaching purposes ; 

 Bittercress is also another name for it. The 

 four white, or very often pale lilac, jietals 

 arranged in the form of a cross (as in all the 

 Crucifercv) and the pinnate leaves will 

 be sufficient guides for recognition ; in 

 damp meadows and by the sides of streams 

 it is found very abundantly during spring 

 and early summer. The leaves, although 

 a little bitter, may be used and eaten as 

 cress ; the fruit is a long pod. 



THE COWSLIP 



Throughout May and June many of the 

 jiastures will }M"oduce quantities of Cows- 

 lijjs {Prinuila vcris). It is a very near 

 relation of the Primrose, and the same 

 ])in-e\'e<l and thmm-eyed arrangement of 

 the stamens and ])istil will be foimd. 

 The calj'.x is of a pale green colour, the 



