
48 PLANTS GROWING IN MUD. 
Children have a passion for the pitchers and sometimes play 
with them, using them as drinking cups. This is a most im- 
prudent thing to do, as it is impossible to know with any 
amount of certainty that they are ever free from insects. 
MARSH MARIGOLD. (Plate XVZ/.) 
Caltha palistrzs. 
FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 
Crow/foot. Bright yellow. Scentless. Mostly north. April, May. 
Flowers : growing in clusters on long petioles. Calyx: usually of five, but 
sometimes as many as nine, showy, petal-likesepals. Coro/la: none. Stamens: 
numerous. /7sti/s: five to fourteen. Leaves : reniform; rounded; the upper 
ones nearly sessile; the lower ones on long petioles. Stem: erect; branching 
at the top ; hollowed; furrowed. Rootstock : thick. 
Unlike the majority of early wild flowers that prefer the 
shelter of the woods to test the season’s temper, the marsh 
marigold boldly opens the spring in the marshes. It is well 
equipped for its mission, being clothed in the brightest of yel- 
low, which is shown to advantage by its background of dark 
green leaves. The plant does not harrow itself with any in- 
tense feelings of patriotism. It is equaily fond of the old and 
new worlds, and has arare adaptability for accommodating it- 
self to circumstances. It is Shakespeare's Mary-bud. In this 
country it is sometimes improperly called cowslip, which name 
belongs toa European species of primrose. 
The leaves and young shoots are excellent when served as 
greens, and find especial favour among the country people in 
England. 
WATER-=PLANTAIN SPEARWORT. 
Rantnculus obtustisculus. 
FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 
Crowfoot. Golden yellow. Scentless. North, sparingly south and west. June-A ugust. 
Hlowers: growing singly, or clustered in panicles. Calyx: of five small sepals. 
Corolla: of five, seven, or more oblong petals. Stamens: indefinite in number. 
fistils : numerous, forming a head. Leaves: lanceolate ; the upper ones clasp- 
ing, the lower ones on petioles. Stem: one to three feet high ; hollow ; glabrous. 
A slender plant whose bright, cheery face shows its close kin- 
ship to the buttercup. It is one of the gay blossoms of the 

