The Forget-Me-Not 



The rootstock creeps below the ground, throwing 

 up stems, six inches to a foot and a half in height, 

 in all directions ; thus we often get considerable 

 masses of the plant growing in soft, moist soil by 

 the edges of streams. The leaves — long, narrow, 

 and quite simple in outhne — have yet two points 

 of interest about them, one with regard to their 

 hairiness, the other with regard to their veining. 

 Now, as a rule, the leaves of Forget-me-nots in 

 general are rather rough to the touch, for they are 

 covered with very minute hairs, which all point 

 towards the apex. This pointing is so definite that 

 if a leaf be passed from stalk to tip across one's 

 Ups or cheek the surface feels almost smooth, but 

 if an attempt be made to draw it in the opposite 

 direction it is almost impossible to do so, so strong, 

 so disagreeable and sharp is the opposition the hairs 

 offer. This peculiarity is, of course, a most excellent 

 defence against small, creeping insects. Any such 

 intruder is quite at liberty to crawl away from the 

 main stem and off towards the leaf tips, but if he 



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