230 HALF-HOtTRS IN THE GREEN LANES. 



both these forms are alike. Presently the growth of 

 the aborted organs is arrested, whilst that of the 

 perfect form progresses. This is really the main 

 difference between them. Fig. 176 represents one 

 of the perfect stamens. 



What is that plant growing just at the base of 

 the hawthorn bushes, and creeping down the hedge- 

 banks in festoons, its elegant green leaves dark- 

 ened with a dash of red in them which sets off 

 wonderfully the azure blue of the flowers ? It is 

 the Ground Ivy (Glechoma Jiedemcea) which, in the 

 north of England, where " yarb doctors " abound, is 

 credited with a fair share of medicinal properties. 

 Close by, but growing in clusters more erect, are the 

 paler leaves of the Red Nettle (Lamium purpureum), 

 the upper part of which has even more red in them, 

 especially when the plant is growing. The rose- 

 coloured flowers form a pleasant contrast to and 

 combination with the blue of the ground ivy. 

 Clusters of Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), whose 

 white ten-petalled flowers are very beautiful objects, 

 dignified by children with the names of " birds'- 

 eyes," "milk-cans," &c., cannot fail to strike the 

 eye of the rambler. The seeds of this plant, when 

 examined with a low magnifying power, are very 

 beautiful objects. But even more delicately beau- 

 tiful than any of our early summer plants, in our 

 opinion, is the little Germander Speedwell (Veronica 

 ehamsedrys), whose sky-blue petals, four-cleft, will 

 come off together, bringing the two stamens with them. 



