BOSACE^. 187 



In meadows, on the banks of ponds and ditches, etc., throughout EuroiJe 

 and Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Common in Britain. Fl. 

 summer. 



2. Conxmou Spiraea. Spiraea Filipendula, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 284. Dropicort.) 



Stock perennial, the fibrous roots swollen here and there into oblong 

 tubers. Stems erect, 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves chieily radical or in tlie 

 lower part of the stem, 3 to 5 inches long, with numerous (above 20) small, 

 oval, oblong or lanceolate segments, deeply toothed or pinnately lobed, gra- 

 dually smaller as they near the stem, green and glabrous, or slightly downy. 

 Stipules broad, adhering to the leafstalk nearly their whole length. Flowers 

 like those of the meadow S., but rather larger, and often tipped with red. 

 Carpels 6 to 12, not twisted. 



In meadows, pastures, and open woods, generally dispersed over Europe 

 and Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Rather frequent in England, 

 extending into southern Scotland, but not recorded in the Irish Flora. Fl. 



III. DRYAS. DRYAS. 



Tufted or creeping perennials, with undivided leaves and rather large 

 white flowers, growing singly on long peduncles. Calyx free, 8- to 10- 

 lobed. Petals 8 to 10, or rarely fewer. Carpels numerous, crowded on the 

 receptacle, 1-seeded and indehiscent, ending when ripe in long feathery awns 

 or taUs, which are not jointed. 



Tlie genus consists of but two, or perhaps three species, confined to the 

 high mountains or Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. 



1. \iniite Dryas. Dryas octopetala, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 451. JD. depressa, Bab. Man.) 



Stems short, much branched, prostrate or creeping, forming with their 

 crowded fohage dense spreading tufts. Leaves but little more than 6 lines 

 long, oblong, deeply and regularly crenate, green, glabrous, and almost 

 shining above, white and downy underneath. Peduncles erect, 2 or 3 inches 

 long. Segments of the calyx usually 8, rather shorter than the petals. 

 Feathered awn of the carpels above an inch long. 



General geographical range nearly the same as that of the genus. In 

 Britain, not uncommon in the limestone mountain districts of northern 

 England and Ireland, but particularly abundant in the north of Scotland. 

 Fl. summer. 



TV. AVENS. GEUM. 



Herbs, with a short perennial, sometimes slightly creeping, stock, and 

 annual, erect stems. Leaves pinnate, with few and very unequal distinct 

 segments, and yellow or red or white flowers growing singly on long 

 peduncles at the ends of the stem or branches. Calyx of 5 equal divisions, 

 with 5 very small outer ones alternating with them. Petals 5. Stamens 

 numerous. Carpels numerous, 1-seeded, indehiscent, ending in a hairy 

 point or awn, which is hooked at the tip. 



