PLANTS GROWING IN MOIST SOIL. 93 



BULB-BEARING LOOSESTRIFE. 



Lysimachia terrestris. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Primrose. Yellow, marked with Scentless. Common north June^July. 



brownish red. and south. 



Flowers : growing on long pedicels in a terminal, leafy raceme. Calyx : of 

 five, or six sepals. Corolla : wheel-shaped; of five oblong segments. Stamens : 

 four or five, with united filaments. Pistil: one. Leaves: abundant; opposite ; 

 long; pointed at each end; darkly spotted. Stem: upright; leafy; branching 



This bright, cheery plant, with others of its family, has the 

 reputation of having a peace-loving heart. Ancient supersti- 

 tion that clings about it tells us it is particularly disposed to 

 exercise its soothing influence upon cattle that are quarrelling, 

 when a spray of it laid upon their yokes will cause them to be- 

 come as gentle as the proverbial lamb. But unless the farmer 

 has, in case of emergency, provided himself with this loosestrife, 

 we may imagine he would have some difficulty in guiding his 

 fractious beasts to search for it by the brooks, or in the wet 

 meadows that lead to the marshes. 



FRINGED LOOSESTRIFE. 



Steironema cilidtum. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Primrose. Yellow \ with dull red Scentless. Mostly south June, July, 



centre. and "west. 



Flowers : axillary ; on long peduncles. Calyx: of five green sepals, sharply 

 pointed. Corolla: wheel-shaped ; of five segments. Slamens : five. Pistil: 

 one. Leaves: opposite; lanceolate; wavy on the edges. Stem: two to four 

 feet high; upright; rather rough. 



During the summer these pretty flowers may be found in the 

 moist soil of thickets. It is owing to a close resemblance to 

 the loosestrifes that their English name has been bestowed on 

 them. 



S. lanceoldtum, or lance-leaved loosestrife, is a similar species. 

 Its leaves are on petioles, or almost sessile, and from their axils 

 arise the slender stalks that bear the flowers. 



