HOW TO KNOW THE SEASIDE FLOWERS 



877 



THRIFT. 



somewhat fleshy. The lea\'es that spring 

 from the roots are all stalked, kidney 

 shaped, and deeply heart-shaped at the 

 base. Those growing on the stem are 

 for the most part sessile ; the base clasps 

 the stem, and the whole leaf assumes a 

 rather angular shape with a few large 

 teeth. The flowers are above half an 

 inch across, white, with sometimes a dash 

 of purple. 



Many explorers have found the Scurvy 

 Grass to be of very great use in keeping 

 off and curing scurvy ; the plant holds 

 in its tissues an oil with a bitter taste, 

 which has proved to be a good remedy 

 for the disease. Probably any other 

 green food, if it had been available, would 

 have been iust as efficacious. The name 



Cochlearia comes from the 

 Latin word for a spoon, and 

 refers to the shape of the 

 leaves. 



THRIFT 



The Thrift, which was 

 formerly known officially as 

 Armeria vulgaris, but is now 

 called Statice maritima, is a 

 well-known plant in gardens, 

 l)eing frequently used for mak- 

 ing an edging — and a very good 

 one it makes when the soil 

 suits it. Prior, in his book on 

 the origin of plant names, 

 states that the popular name 

 is part of the old verb threave, 

 or thrive, to press close to- 

 gether, and refers to the dense 

 tufts which the plants make. 

 The Thrift is a member of the 

 Plumbago family, of which this 

 plant and the Sea Lavenders 

 are the only British repre- 

 sentatives. PHny mentions it 

 under the name of Statice, 

 which is derived from the 

 Greek words signifying to stop, 

 as this plant, by growing in 

 sandy situations, is found to 

 retain and stop the movement 

 of the sands. In the time of 

 Queen Ehzabeth it was called 

 "Ladies' Cushion" and Sea 

 Gilloflower, and now it is often 

 termed the Sea Pink. The 

 leaves are all narrow, and ha\-e 

 a prominent midrib. They 

 form a thick rosette on the ground. The 

 flowering stems grow from three to six 

 inches high, and each one bears a globular 

 head of pink flowers. The colour is some- 

 what variable, and may be found as deep 

 rose or white. 



The Thrift is to be seen growing in 

 most seaside places, either on the shores 

 or rocks, and also on the higher pastures. 

 It is found, too, on the tops of some of 

 the Scottish mountains. When growing in 

 a mass, and when in full bloom in summer, 

 the pink tinge of colour is \-ery effective. 

 Another s])ecies, Statice plantaginca, with 

 ]:>roader lea\'es, each one with three or 

 fi\'e nerves running up them in a iiarallel 

 direction and with a taller flowering stem, 

 is to be found in the Channel Islands. 



