THE PLANT AND ITS ENEMIES 



lOOI 



early summer, is but rarely attacked, 

 doubtless because of its strongly aro- 

 matic flavour. Now just at this time 

 the Brooklime, another moisture-lo\iiig 

 plant, starts to grow. Tliese two plants, 

 both found plentifully in damp spots, 

 frequently intermingle ; and at a little 

 distance it is not an easy matter to dis- 

 tinguish the one from the other, so strong 

 is the resemblance. It does not seem 

 unreasonable to suppose that the Brook- 

 lime benefits to some extent by its resem- 

 blance to the Mint. Grazing animals 

 cropping the herbage along the banks of 

 the brook, would be likeh' to leave a plant 

 severely alone which 

 looked so like the aro- 

 matic Mint. Lord Ave- 

 bury has pointed out the 

 close similarity existing 

 between the Scentless 

 Mayweed and the Cham- 

 omile, both as regards 

 leaves, flowers, and 

 general habit. The lat- 

 ter species has a strong 

 bitter taste which is 

 likely to serve as a pro- 

 tection, and in its resem- 

 blance the Mayweed may 

 possibly reap advantage. 

 Of course, these last two 

 plants are so closely 

 related to one another 

 that one should not per- 

 haps attach too much im- 

 portance to the likeness. 

 Far more remarkable 

 than the instances of 

 possible mimicry already 

 mentioned are the large 

 number of plants bearing 

 a more or less striking 

 resemblance to the Sting- 

 ing Nettle, which, we 

 must remember, is one 

 of the best protected 

 species in this country. 

 This simulation is seen 

 to its greatest advantage 

 in the case of the so- 

 calledWhite Dead-Nettie 

 {Lamiitm), a plant which 

 is not even remotely 

 allied to the Stinging 

 Nettle. Especiallv is the 

 127 



likeness to be observed in the early stages 

 of growth, before the white blossoms of 

 the Lamimn have been developed. 

 Indeed, it is only after a critical examina- 

 tion that it is possible to tell the difference 

 between the two plants, when, as is often 

 the case, they are growing closely together. 

 It is surely not an unreasonable sup- 

 position to suggest that browsing animals, 

 and possibly even insect larvae, may be 

 deceived, and may pass over the harmless 

 plant under the impression that it is the 

 baneful one. At any rate, after a few 

 experiences with the Stinging Nettle, one 

 can hardly imagine an observant creature 



HAIRS ON FOXGLOVES LIl' TO KXCLLDE UNWANTED VISITORS. 



