824 



THE NATURE BOOK 



those leaves that grow on the stalks 

 are much shorter, and not cut up so 

 much into divisions, they are also 

 smoother. The large yellow iiowers (some 

 three or four inches across), whose petals 

 fall so soon alter the flower is picked, 

 are borne on short stalks : the petals are 

 four in number, as in all Poppies. 



The long, curved, horn-hke seed pods 

 are sure to attract the attention of any 

 passer-by ; these vary in length from six 

 to twelve inches, and bear at the extreme 

 end the remains of the spreading lobes 

 of the stigma. 



SEA HOLLY 



The pale sea-green or glaucous bloom 

 is more often to be seen on plants growing 

 near the sea than on those found in 

 more inland parts ; another noticeable 

 example being the Sea Holly {Eryngimn 

 viaritimum). The name is given to it, 

 not because it is any relation to the Holly, 

 but because its leaves are very prickly, 

 stiff and sharp pointed. On a cursory 

 examination of the flower head it might 

 be thought to be a member of the Com- 



posite family ; in reality it belongs to the 

 same family as the Parsley and Hemlock, 

 the Umhelliferce ; the flowers are in a 

 compact, globular head, measuring nearly 

 an inch across. The lower leaves are 

 stalked, the others clasp the stem ; all 

 of them are somewhat wa\-y, and they 

 are more or less divided into three lobes 

 at the top, and bordered by very prickly 

 teeth, so that the plant has to be handled 

 very warily. The heads of flowers are 

 pale blue in colour and rest on an in- 

 volucre of five or six leaves which are 

 smaller and narrower than the rest. 

 The flowering season is during July and 

 August. The generic name {Eryngiiim) is 

 derived from a Greek word signifying 

 that the plant was at one time used as 

 an emetic. Linnaeus states that the young 

 flower shoots are very good eating, if they 

 are cooked in the same way as asparagus ; 

 the leaves have a sweet, aromatic taste, 

 whilst the roots are sometimes candied, 

 and sold as a sweetmeat. The sandy sea- 

 shores of our eastern coasts are its favour- 

 ite habitats ; it is an attractive looking 

 plant and one that is very easily recognised. 



SKA HOLLY. 



