WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
1 . Common Yellow-Rattle, Cock’s-comb. (Rhinan'thus Crista-galli. Linn.)— As 
just described. The flowers are J-i inch long, yellow, often with the short teeth of the upper lip 
of a bright blue or purple and 2 similar spots lower down, solitary in the axils of green leaf-like 
bracts, forming leafy terminal clusters; the stems are 4-12 inches high, 4-sided, wiry, usually 
unbranched ; and the leaves are oblong lance-shaped and toothed (serrate). 
The popular name of Rattle is given to this plant on account of the noise the few large seeds make 
in the dry bladder-like capsule. ( Rhinanthus minor. Ehrh.) [ Plate 26. 
Very common. In meadows and pastures ; throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland. June — 
July. August. 
2. Large Yellow-Rattle. (Rhinan'thus m&jor. Ehrh.)— A very similar species with 
larger flowers, yellow bracts ending in a fine green point, and the stem usually much branched. 
( Under Rhinanthus Crista-galli. Benth. and Hook.) 
Rare. In cultivated ground; in various counties in England and Scotland. July — August. 
Annual. 
The last edition 01 the London Catalogue gives 3 varieties of the Large Yellow- Rattle 
(Rhinanthus major) according to differences in the shape of the seed, and it also gives 6 
other species which most botanists include under the Common Yellow-Rattle (Rhinanthus 
Crista-galli). 
XIII. COW-WHEAT. (MELAMPYRUM. Linn.)— Flowers yellow, purple, or variegated, in 
pairs, or in leafy spikes. Calyx of 4 sepals, united into a tube and separating into 4 teeth, 
inserted below the seedcase (inferior) ; corolla of 5 petals, united into a long tube and separating 
into 2 lips (bilabiate), the upper of which is erect, helmet-shaped, and flattened laterally, entire 
or with a small tooth on either side of the apex ; the lower lip is spreading, shortly 3-lobed, and 
with a projecting palate which usually closes the corolla-tube (personate), inserted below the 
seedcase (hypogynous) ; stamens 4, in 2 unequal pairs (didynamous), concealed in the upper lip 
of the corolla, inserted on the corolla-tube (epi-petalous) ; carpels 2 ; capsule egg-shaped (ovate), 
oblique, 2-celled, opening from the top by 2 valves down the middle of each cell (loculicidal), 
and having 1 or 2 large seeds in each cell. Herbs with opposite leaves. Another semi-parasitic 
genus, giving off round suckers on the root-branches, as in the last genus. 
Throat of corolla-tube closed by palate. 
(1) Crested Cow-wheat. (Melampyrum crisHtum.) — Flowers yellow, variegated with purple, 
in dense spikes. 
(2) Purple Cow-wheat. (Melampyrum arven'se.) — Flowers red with yellow throat, in loose 
spikes. 
(3) Common Cow-wheat. (Melampyrum praten'se.) — Flowers yellow, in pairs ; leaves toothed 
at the base. 
Throat of corolla-tube not closed by palate. 
(4) Alpine Wood Cow-wheat. (Melampyrum sylvat'icum.) — Flowers orange-yellow, in pairs ; 
leaves entire. 
1 . Crested Cow- wheat. (Melampyrum crist&tum. Linn.)— As just described. The 
flowers are yellow variegated with purple, in the axils of the upper leaves or bracts, which are 
densely crowded together and form a spike ; these bracts are egg-shaped (ovate), sharply toothed 
(serrate), pale yellow, heart-shaped (cordate), and stained with rose-colour at the base. The stem 
