THE 

 YELLOW EATTLE. 



Rhinanthus Crista-galli. Nat. Ord., 

 Scrophulariaca. 



HE yellow rattle of England 

 the Cribell melyn of Wales 

 and the Bodan chloigin of 

 Ireland " groweth in drie 

 medowes and pastures, and is 

 to them a great annoiance." 

 The reason of this annoyance 

 does not seem to have been 

 understood until quite recently, 

 as it has only lately been ob- 

 served that the plant is a para- 

 site, attaching itself to the roots 

 of the grass and other herbage 

 surrounding it by means of 

 small suckers. The broom rape 

 and the dodder are other 

 common examples of parasitic plants. The broomrapes 

 are equally curious, and plant themselves, according to 

 the species, on broom, furze, thyme, knapweed, milfoil, 

 and other plants; but as we propose to figure one of 

 the common species, we reserve our fuller comments until 

 then. 



Botanical writers until comparatively recently affirmed 

 54 



