MAY AND JUNE 



249 



Chickweed (Stellaria media) : 



The flowers of this plant are much too small for chil- 

 dren to examine. The most that can be done is to let 

 them see, that instead of ten petals, 

 as there appear to be at first sight, there 

 are really only five. 



It belongs to the Pink family, and is 

 very common in moist ground, both in 

 the city and the country. 



Sheep's Sorrel (Rumex Acetosella) : 



This plant has no relationship to the 

 pretty yellow sorrel, although it bears 

 the same name. The leaves of both are 

 pleasantly acid. 



Along with the Smartweeds, also very 

 common, it belongs to the Buckwheat 

 family. 



Its flowers and fruits make the 

 meadows red in siunmer. 



Ferns: Sheep's Sorrel. 



These have already been discussed on p. 36. 



Mosses : 



One of the most striking characteristics of the mosses, 

 particularly in comparison with the higher plants, is the 

 quickness with which they succumb to drouth, and with 

 v/hich they recover from its effects when they are fur- 

 nished with moisture. This is due to the fact that they 

 readily absorb water in any and every part, and do not 

 depend exclusively on their so-called roots, which are 

 chiefly useful in securing a hold on the soil. 



