I IO 
WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
pointed, with the point bent inwards, apparently notched ; stamens 5 ; carpels 2. Fruit of 2, 
united, roundish cases, each containing 1 hanging seed (cremocarp), covered with scales and 
crowned with the spiny calyx-teeth. Herbs often spiny, with very spiny leaves, and leaf-stalks 
sheathing at the base. 
Sea Holly, Sea Eryngfo. (Eryngium maritimum, Linn.)— As just described. Flowers 
^ inch across, stalkless (sessile), bluish, in dense roundish clusters (simple umbels) with a blue bract 
below each flower, and 5-8 spiny, leaf-like bracts below each cluster or head, the calyx-tube bristly, 
with 5 spiny teeth remaining with the fruit ; the petals 5, pointed, with the point bent inwards ; the 
stamens long, with blue anthers ; the carpels with long styles ; the fruit roundish, scaly, crowned 
with the calyx-teeth. The stem 6-18 inches high, thick, solid, much branched at the top, bluish; 
the leaves undivided (simple), more or less deeply 3-lobed, broad, wavy, and coarsely, spinously 
toothed, bluish ; with the leaf-stalks sheathing at the base. The whole plant is covered with a 
bluish bloom (glaucous). \Plate 51. 
Common on sandy sea-shores. July and August. Perennial. 
Field Eryngo. (Eryngium eampestre, Linn.)— A similar plant, with smaller 
and more numerous clusters of flowers ; taller, more slender, more branched, greener stems, 
and leaves deeply lobed to the midrib (pinnatifid), the lobes being coarsely and spinously 
toothed. 
Very rare. Dry waste places near Plymouth, Durham, and Waterford. July — August. Perennial. 
*ASTRANTIA . — Flowers white or pale pink, in compact simple or irregularly compound clusters 
(umbels), each mass of shortly-stalked flowers starting from the same point on the stem and 
surrounded by several, coloured, leafy bracts. Calyx with 5 large lance-shaped teeth ; petals 5, with 
a long point which is bent inwards ; stamens 5 ; carpels 2. Fruit oblong or oval, flattened, scaly, 
crowned with the long, pointed calyx-teeth, and composed of 2 united cases, each containing 1 
hanging seed (cremocarp). Herbs with undivided (simple) leaves, roundish, lobed and toothed 
(serrate), and leaf-stalks sheathing at the base. 
* Greater Astrantia. (Astrantia major, Linn.) — The only species found in Britain, 
but not a native. The flowers ^ inch across, white or pale pink, in compact clusters, 
surrounded by large, undivided, toothed, leafy bracts ; sometimes with several clusters, on 
unequal stalks, which start from the same point (compound umbel) ; the stem 1-2 feet, 
unbranched or slightly branched, and the leaves round, undivided, lobed towards the base into 
3-7 toothed segments, with bristly teeth ; with the leaf-stalks sheathing at the base. 
Very rare. Naturalised in woods near Ludlow and Malvern. June — July. Perennial. 
ALEXANDERS. (SMYRNIUM, LINN.) — Flowers yellow, in clusters of shortly-stalked flowers, 
all rising from the same point on longer stalks, which longer stalks have one common starting- 
point on the main flowering-stalk (compound umbel). Bracts o, or very few ; calyx entirely 
combined with the seedcase, without teeth ; petals 5, pointed, with the point bent inwards ; 
stamens 5; carpels 2. Fruit short, flattened from side to side, with 10 ridges, composed of 
2 united cases, each containing 1 hanging seed (cremocarp). Herbs, with various leaves, and 
sheathing leaf-stalks. 
Common Alexanders. (Smyrnium Olusatrum, Linn.)— The only British species 
(as just described). The flowers pale greenish-yellow ; the fruit black when ripe ; the stem 1-4 
feet high, erect, stout, solid ; the leaves divided to the base into 3 scalloped leaflets, which are 
broad, egg-shaped, and slightly lobed ; the lower leaves being divided to the midrib into similar 
