48 PLANTS GROWING IN MUD. 



Children have a passion for the pitchers and sometimes play 

 with them, using them as drinking cups. This is a most im- 

 prudent thing to do, as it is impossible to know with any 

 amount of certainty that they are ever free from insects. 



MARSH MARIGOLD. (Plate XVI.) 

 C-dltha palustris. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Crowfoot. Bright yellow. Scentless. Mostly north. April, May. 



Flowers : growing in clusters on long petioles. Calyx : usually of five, but 

 sometimes as many as nine, showy, petal-like sepals. Corolla : none. Stamens : 

 numerous. Pistils : five to fourteen. Leaves : reniform ; rounded ; the upper 

 ones nearly sessile ; the lower ones on long petioles. Stem : erect ; branching 

 at the top ; hollowed ; furrowed. Rootstock : thick. 



Unlike the majority of early wild flowers that prefer the 

 shelter of the woods to test the season's temper, the marsh 

 marigold boldly opens the spring in the marshes. It is well 

 equipped for its mission, being clothed in the brightest of yel- 

 low, which is shown to advantage by its background of dark 

 green leaves. The plant does not harrow itself with any in- 

 tense feelings of patriotism. It is equally fond of the old and 

 new worlds, and has a rare adaptability for accommodating it- 

 self to circumstances. It is Shakespeare's Mary-bud. In this 

 country it is sometimes improperly called cowslip, which name 

 belongs to a European species of primrose. 



The leaves and young shoots are excellent when served as 

 greens, and find especial favour among the country people in 

 England. 



WATER=PLANTAIN SPEARWORT. 



Rantinculus obtusiiisculus. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Crowfoot. Golden yellow. Scentless. North, sparingly south and west. June- August. 



Flowers: growing singly, or clustered in panicles. Calyx: of five small sepals. 

 Corolla: of five, seven, or more oblong petals. Stamens: indefinite in number. 

 Pistils: numerous, forming a head. Leaves: lanceolate ; the upper ones clasp- 

 ing, the lower ones on petioles. Stem: one to three feet high ; hollow ; glabrous. 



A slender plant whose bright, cheery face shows its close kin- 

 ship to the buttercup. It is one of the gay blossoms of the 



