191 1.] Identification and Eradication of Weeds. 755 



Fruits. — The fruits (Fig. 4, a) occur one to three together, 

 the seeds being enclosed in the calyx-tube. They are about 

 T Vin. long by X V in. broad (2 mm. long by 1*7 mm. broad), 

 light brown in colour, rough and hairy, somewhat streaked 

 owing to shrinkage of the calyx, and compressed, so lying 

 on one of the two broad sides; they terminate in eight teeth, 

 four large and four small, the remnants of the calyx and 

 epicalyx — the eight teeth, however, are seldom clearly visible. 



Seedlings. — When the seedling first appears it is very 

 minute ; the first stage shown (Fig. 4, b) has a brownish fibrous 

 root, and a slender, smooth, colourless hypocotyl tinged with 

 red. The cotyledons are very small, at first forming a kind of 

 sheath at the base, inclined to the same side, petiolate, 

 roundish and slightly incurved at the apex, green above and 

 whitish below. The petiole is flat and broad, and about 

 - L \ in. (2 mm.) long, while the blade is T V to jV in'. (i'7 to 

 2 mm.) in diameter. 



The second stage (Fig. 4, c) shows that the first leaves are 

 radical, trifid and lobed, hairy above and at the margins, 

 green above and whitish beneath, and petiolate, the petiole 

 being channelled above and with a broad wing on the lower 

 part. In this stage the under-surface of the cotyledons and 

 the stalks of the leaves may be slightly tinged with pink. 



Subsequent stages (Fig. 4, d) closely resemble the second 

 stage, the leaves being trifid and lobed, dark green and hairy 

 above, whitish beneath, and with a dark vein running to the 

 apex of each lobe or tooth. 



Mature Plant. — The flowering plant (Fig. 4, e) is about 

 4 to 9 ins. in height, prostrate, hairy, with small fan-like 

 trifid leaves which clasp the stem like an inverted mantle. 

 The minute flowers (Fig. 4, e') bear no petals, and are green ; 

 they are in crowded clusters in the axils of the leaves, and 

 appear between May and August. 



Prevention and Remedy. — Field Lady's Mantle is not 

 usually very troublesome, but where it occurs in quantity 

 must.be thoroughly hoed out, while surface cultivation in 

 spring will aid in reducing it. The root crop following a 

 cereal will keep it down, and it is unlikely to be plentiful in 

 a good "take" of "seeds." 



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