30 
WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
VI. SEA-MILKWORT. (GLAUX. Linn.) — A genus consisting of the one species : — 
Sea-Milkwort. (Glaux marit'ima. Linn.) — This species is distinguished from 
all the other species belonging to the Primrose Family by the absence of any corolla. The 
small flowers are solitary in the axils of the leaves. The calyx is bell-shaped, 5-lobed, pale pink 
becoming crimson towards the centre (petaloid), taking the place of the petals ; corolla o ; 
stamens 5, inserted below the seedcase (hypogynous) ; carpels 5 ; fruit a capsule, 1 -celled, 
few-seeded, opening at the top by 5 valves. A low, procumbent, fleshy, glossy little plant 
growing in thick patches in the grass ; the stems are 3-12 inches long, and are rather densely 
covered with small, oval or oblong, entire, stalkless leaves. [P/ate n. 
Common on muddy or sandy salt marshes all round the coast of Great Britain and along the sides 
of tidal rivers ; also inland in Worcestershire and Staffordshire, where the soil is saturated with 
salt. May — July. Perennial. 
VII. PIMPERNEL. (ANAGAL'LIS. Linn.) — Flowers brightly coloured, solitary, on slender 
stalks, in the axils of the opposite leaves. Calyx of 5 narrow sepals, only united at the base, 
entirely free from and inserted below the seedcase (inferior) ; corolla of 5 petals, united at the 
base, though not into a tube, spreading star-like (rotate), rarely funnel-shaped, inserted below the 
seedcase (hypogynous) ; stamens 5, inserted on the base of the corolla (epi-petalous) ; carpels 5 ; 
fruit a round capsule, 1 -celled, many-seeded, splitting in two crosswise (transversely), the upper 
part falling off like a lid. Slender herbs with opposite leaves. 
(1) Scarlet Pimpernel. (Anagal'lis arven'sis.) — Flowers generally scarlet, spreading star-like 
(rotate) ; petals fringed with minute gland-tipped hairs ; stems prostrate. 
(2) Blue Pimpernel. (Anagal'lis foem'ina.) — Flowers blue, spreading star-like (rotate) ; petals 
without gland-tipped hairs ; stems erect. 
(3) Bog Pimpernel. (Anagal'lis tenel'la.) — Flowers pale pink, funnel-shaped ; stems prostrate. 
1. Scarlet Pimpernel, Poor Man’s Weather-glass. (Anagal'lis arven'sis. Linn.) — 
As just described. A very well known and attractive little plant which has received its name of 
“ Poor Man’s ” or “ Shepherd’s Weather-glass ” from the sensitiveness of its little scarlet flowers, 
which close at the approach of rain. The flowers are about £ inch across, bright scarlet with a 
crimson stain in the centre, rarely pink or white ; the petals, spreading star-like (rotate), are fringed 
with minute gland-tipped hairs ; the stems are prostrate, 6 inches to about 1 foot long, much 
branched, 4-winged, fleshy, and brittle ; and the leaves are opposite or rarely in circles (whorls) of 
3 or 4, egg-shaped (ovate), pointed, and stalkless. \Plate n. 
Very common. In cultivated ground, way-sides, and waste places, generally distributed over 
England, Ireland, and Scotland, except in the extreme north of Scotland. May — October. 
Annual. 
2 . Blue Pimpernel. (Anagal'lis foem'ina. Mill.) — A similar species, with bright blue 
flowers, the petals not fringed with gland-tipped hairs, and the stems erect. ( Anagallis cczrulea. 
Schreb.) 
Rare. In cultivated ground, &c. ; in England, extremely rare in Scotland and Ireland. May — 
October. Annual. 
3. Bog Pimpernel. (Anagal'lis tenel'la. Linn.) — A beautiful little bog plant. The 
fragile flowers are funnel-shaped, \ inch long, pale pink with deeper pink veins, solitary, on slender 
stalks in the axils of the leaves ; the filaments of the stamens are very hairy, and are united at the 
base into a tube ; the capsule is shorter than the calyx-segments ; the stems are 2-8 inches long, very 
slender, and creeping ; and the leaves are opposite, roundish, and stalked. \Plate n. 
