Wild Flowers as They Grow 



difference is that on the ungrooved parts of the 

 stem there is a clothing of somewhat fine, rigid 

 hairs all pointing downwards and pressed on to the 

 stem, and these, like a mackintosh, turn off the rain. 



The leaves next the root are on long stalks, and 

 are of a drawn-out heart shape. Up the stem 

 towards the flowers are a few pairs of leaves stretch- 

 ing out like wings, two pairs between them pointing 

 to all quarters of the compass, for they arise on 

 alternate sides of the stem. Hence it follows that 

 the gutters which always start between each pair 

 are not continuous down the whole stem, but the 

 streams of water are successively collected and 

 turned from side to side. The lower pairs of these 

 stem leaves are possessed of short stalks, but the 

 upper pairs are set completely down upon the stem. 

 AU the leaves feel rough to the touch, and are 

 fringed with the tiniest edging of hairs ; their whole 

 surface is marked with dots — storehouses of a bitter 

 and aromatic oil. 



Not so long ago some ingenious herbaUst be- 



12 



