84 WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
and with leaves only on the upper part of the stem ; the leaves being undivided (simple), roundish 
5-7-lobed, toothed, heart-shaped at the base (cordate). 
Rare. On peaty bogs in the North, and in north Wales. June — July. Perennial. 
MOUNTAIN AVENS. (DRYAS, LINN.) — Flowers large, solitary, white or yellow. Sepals 
8-10, united at the base ; petals 8-10, rarely fewer, entire; stamens, numerous ; carpels numerous, 
not united (free), with the long feathery styles remaining with the fruit (persistent). Fruit a 
head of achenes, small, dry, i-seeded fruits which decay to free the seeds (indehiscent), each 
achene ending in the persistent long feathery style, which is not hooked. Prostrate herbs, with 
undivided (simple), oblong leaves, white underneath. 
White Mountain Avens. (Dryas octopetala, Linn.)— The only British species (as 
just described). The flowers i-if inches across, white ; with 8 sepals ; 8 petals ; and the stems 
2-5 inches high, with oblong, scalloped leaves (crenate). 
Very rare. Mountain districts, especially on limestone. June — July. Perennial. 
AVENS. (GEUM, LINN.) — Flowers on long stalks, yellow, sometimes reddish, in irregular 
terminal clusters (cymes). Sepals 5, united at the base, remaining with the fruit (persistent), with 
an outer row of 5 small bracts ; petals 5 ; stamens numerous ; carpels numerous, not united (free), 
the styles remaining with the fruit (persistent). Fruit a head of achenes (small, dry, 
1 -seeded fruits, which decay to free the seeds), each ending in the hairy style, which is hooked at 
the tip. Herbs with leaves divided to the midrib into several pairs of leaflets, with 1 terminal 
one (imparipinnate). Stipules leafy (foliaceous). 
Wood Avens, Herb Bennet. (Geum urbanum, Linn.)— Flowers inch across, few, 
yellow, on long stalks, in irregular, terminal clusters. Sepals 5 ; bracts 5 ; petals 5 ; stamens 
numerous ; carpels numerous. Fruits in a dense head of small, dry, i-seeded achenes, each 
ending in the persistent style, which is red and hairy and is hooked at the tip. Stems 8 inches to 
3 feet high, erect, hairy ; the leaves of the root divided to the midrib into 2-4 pairs of large, 
coarsely-toothed leaflets, intermixed with smaller ones and one large terminal one (lyrately- 
imparipinnate) ; the leaves of the upper stem only divided into 3 leaflets (pinnately-trifoliate), with 
large leafy stipules. \Plate 40. 
Very common. Woods, hedges, thickets. June — September. Perennial. 
Water Avens. (Geum rivale, Linn.) — Flowers much larger than those of the Wood 
Avens, few, drooping, cup-shaped, yellow tinged with pink, in terminal clusters. Sepals 5, broad, 
purplish-red ; bracts 5, very small and narrow, purplish-red ; petals 5, pale yellow tinged with pink 
and veined ; stamens numerous ; carpels numerous. Fruits in a round head, on a stalk which 
lifts them above the sepals and bracts, small, dry, i-seeded achenes, ending in the persistent 
style, which is hairy and red and notched in the middle. Stem 1-2 feet high, erect, stout, hairy ; 
leaves chiefly from the root (radical), divided to the midrib into 2-4 pairs of coarsely-toothed 
leaflets, intermixed with small ones, and terminating in one very large roundish one (lyrately, 
imparipinnate) ; those of the stem divided into 3 leaflets, or only 3-lobed, toothed, and with 
small, leafy stipules. [ Plate 40. 
Not common. Moist woods and by the sides of streams and ditches. June — July. Perennial. 
CINQUEFOIL. (POTENTILLA, LINN.) — Flowers yellow, white, rarely red or purple, solitary, 
or in terminal clusters (cymes). Sepals 5, rarely 4, uniting into a short tube, and separating into 
the same number of teeth, with an outer row of the same number of sepal-like bracts (epicalyx) ; 
petals 5, rarely 4, usually notched, inserted in the throat of the calyx-tube ; stamens 4-10, or 
numerous, inserted with the petals; carpels 4-10, or numerous, not united (free). Fruit a head of 
