FLOWERING PLANTS OF THE GREEN LANES. 245 



can hardly distinguish from dandelions, both in cut 

 of leaf and shape and colour of flower. The Succory 

 hawkweeds are very pretty plants, which love to 

 grow in the shadier parts of the lanes. The Chicory 

 (Cichorium intijbus) is also a composite plant, with a 

 flower exactly resembling those of the larger hawk- 

 weeds, but of a beautiful light-blue colour. It loves a 

 limy soil, and is particularly abundant in the eastern 

 counties, growing side by side with the Dyer's Kock- 

 weed (Reseda luteola), which you may easily 

 recognise as a large kind of mignonette; and in 

 company with the bright and attractive Ox-eye 

 Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum). It is the 

 long carrot-like root of the chicory that is dried and 

 roasted and used with coffee. In Germany and 

 Belgium, and even in some parts of this country, it 

 is now cultivated for this purpose. The Willow-herb 

 (Epilobium) and the purple Loosestrife (Lythruni 

 saliearia) are also summer plants, which you will 

 certainly find growing on the margins of the nearest 

 tarn. The former will be recognised by their 

 willow-like leaves and rosy flowers, whose seed 

 vessels shoot out into long, thin pods. Nothing can 

 exceed the brilliancy of the tall, light purple spikes 

 of flowers borne by the Loosestrife. The plant 

 contains a large degree of tannic acid, so that it is 

 used as an astringent. It is not, however, the 

 "long purples" mentioned in Shakespere, as some 

 have thought. That plant is probably the Spotted 

 Orchis (Orchis maculata, or 0. mono). 



