80 BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS chap. 



annual species, and is interesting in connection with the 

 preponderance of perennial species in Alpine and Arctic 

 districts. 



C. impatiens. — This species is happily named from 

 its habit of throwing its seeds as in the preceding 

 species. 



Dentaria 



A genus of herbs with creeping, scaly root-stock, 

 from which the name is derived (Latin dens, a tooth). 



D. bulbifera, a rare plant occurring in the south 

 of England, is the only* British representative. It 

 grows in damp woods, and like other inhabitants of 

 such localities has large, flat delicate leaves. As, more- 

 over, the leaves inhabit places where, and appear at a 

 season when, the leaf supply is abundant, the plants 

 run their risk, and need no special protection from 

 browsing quadrupeds. In dry, arid regions where the 

 food for goats, sheep, etc., runs short, they would not 

 last a day. 



To the same category belong Lunaria, Orohus vernus, 

 Paris, Mercurialis (Dog's Mercury), Impatiens (Balsam), 

 Arum (Lords and Ladies), and Petasites (Butter Bur). 



The flowers are large, and honey is formed in four 

 nectaries at the base of the stamens, but insect visits 

 are rare. Knuth never saw any, nor have I been more 

 fortunate. Pods indeed are seldom formed, but small 

 ovoid bulbs grow at the base of the leaves, and by them 

 the plant is generally propagated. 



Hesperls 



H. matronalis. — A hairy plant, with violet flowers 

 f inch in diameter. The nectaries are two fleshy, 

 green glands at the base of the two short stamens. 

 The long stamens reach just to the opening of the 

 flower, but after shedding their pollen they are said to 

 grow rather longer, which is very unusual. The anthers 

 open inwards, and self fertilisation is easy. The 

 flowers are, however, visited by several insects ; about 



