44 



WEEDS. 



of one petal, ringent tube, rather cylindrical, the length of 

 the calyx ; limb gaping, compressed at the base ; upper lip 

 helmet-shaped, compressed, emarginate, narrower ; lower, 

 spreading, flat, trifid half-way down, obtuse, the middle seg- 

 ment broader. Stamina : filaments four, the length of the 

 uppei' lip, the two shorter ones concealed under it ; anthers 

 incumbent, cloven on one side, hairy. Pistil : germen 

 superior, ovate, compressed ; style thread-shaped, longer than 

 the stamens, but standing between them ; stigma obtuse, in- 

 flexed. Pericarp : capsule obtuse, erect, compressed, of 

 two cells, and two valves, gaping at the margins : partition 

 contrary. Seeds numerous, compressed. 



Essential character. — Calyx inflated, compressed, four- 

 toothed. Upper lip of the corolla compressed. Capsule of 

 two cells, blunt, compressed. Seeds imbricated, flat. 



The " Cock's comb yellow rattle," or the Rhinanthus crista 

 galli,^' has the root annual, small, with small fibres. The 

 whole plant is smooth. Stem a foot or more in height, four- 

 cornered, mostly stained with dark purple. Leaves in pairs, 

 spike, terminating leafy. Bractes like the leaves, only broader 

 at the base, and more deeply cut in. Flowers not always 

 strictly opposite, on short peduncles. Calyx remarkably 

 large, inflated, of a pale greenish yellow colour, with strong- 

 ribs, and a network of veins. Corolla twice as long as the 

 calyx ; yellow, except the tube, which is white, and the an- 

 terior edge of the upper lip, which is dirty blue ; anthers awn- 

 less, but very hairy ; germs smooth, surrounded at the base 

 by membranaceous nectary. Capsule rounded, emarginate 

 at top, two-celled, two-valved. Seeds from eight to twelve in 

 each cell, kidney-shaped. It flowers early in J une. 



This plant gets the name of " Yellow rattle," from the rat- 

 thng of the ripe seeds in the capsule ; and for the same rea- 

 son it is called "rattle boxes" in Ireland. It is sometimes 

 called " penny-grass," and in Yorkshire " hen-penny," from 

 the shape and size of the seed vessel, like a silver penny. 

 The name of " cock's comb" is derived from the appearance 

 of the upper leaves or bractes which accompany the flowers. 

 Havmg no quality to recommend it for grazing, it should be 



