Root fibrous, tough. Stem 2 or 3 feet high, upright, round, 
furrowed, solid, leafy, rough with short, coarse hairs, which arc 
not bristly or pungent, much branched ; branches spreading, fur- 
rowed, purplish on their upper side and in their axils. Leaves 
pointed, wavy, spear-shaped ; those from the root unequally and 
broadly toothed, on bordered footstalks ; those on the stem sessile, 
and somewhat heart-shaped at the base ; the uppermost approach- 
ing to strap-shaped. Peduncles ( flower-stalks ) branched, some- 
what corymbose, each branch with several, scattered, spear-shaped 
bracteas, and bearing one largish, bright yellow flower. Inner scales 
of the involucrum nearly strap-shaped, parallel, hairy on the out- 
side, and exactly the length of the pappus, which is slightly feathery : 
outer scales loosely spreading, similar to the inner, but unequal, and 
all much shorter. Seeds oblong, roundish, drawn to a point at both 
ends, furrowed, and transversely wrinkled. Receptacle flat, with 
shallow pits, which are somewhat pentagonal. 
This plant is a native of many other parts of Europe as well as of England. It is 
of a dark-green colour, and rough with short, coarse hairs. 
SUMMER. 
“ They may boast of the spring-time when flowers are the fairest. 
And birds sing by thousands on every green tree ; 
They may call it the loveliest, the greenest, the rarest, — 
But the Summer’s the season that’s dearest to me ! 
For the brightness of sunshine ; the depth of the shadows ; 
The crystal of waters ; the fullness of green ; 
And the rich flowery growth of the old pasture meadows. 
In the glory of Summer can only be seen. 
Oh, the joy of the green-wood ! I love to be in it. 
And list to the hum of the never-still bees ; 
And to hear the sweet voice of the old mother linnet, 
Calling unto her young ’mong the leaves of the trees 1 
To see the red squirrel frisk hither and thither. 
And the w'ater-rat plunging about in his mirth ; 
And the thousand small lives that the warm Summer weather 
Calls forth to rejoice on the bountiful earth ! 
Then the mountains, how fair ! to the blue vault of heaven 
Towering up in the sunshine, and drinking the light. 
While adown their deep chasms, all splintered and riven. 
Fall the far-gleaming cataracts silvery white ! 
And where are the flowers that in beauty are glowing 
In the gardens and fields of the young merry Spring, 
Like the mountain-side wilds of the yellow broom blowing. 
And the old forest pride, the red wastes of the ling ! 
Then the garden, no longer ’tis leafless and chilly, 
But warm with the sunshine, and bright with the sheen 
Of rich flowers, the moss-rose and the bright tiger-lily, 
Barbaric in pomp as an Ethiop Queen. 
Oh, the beautiful flowers, all colours combining. 
The larkspur, the pink, and the sweet mignionette. 
And the blue fleur-de-lis, in the warm sunlight shining. 
As if grains of gold in its petals were set ! 
Yes, the Summer, — the radiant Summer’s the fairest. 
For green woods and mountains, for meadows and bowers, 
For waters, and fruits, and for flowers the rarest. 
And for bright shining butterflies, lovely as flowers !” 
From “ Birds and Flowers," a volume of delightful l’oetrv, 
by Mrs. Mary IIowitt. 
