BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
141 
flavour or relish. The genus is placed in the Linnsean class Icosandria, from its twenty stamens ; and in the 
order Polygynia, from its numerous styles. 
1.— THE COMMON AVENS, OR HERB BENNET. (Geum urbanum, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1400; 2nd ed., t. 742. 
Specific Character. —Leaves ternate; radical ones somewhat lyrate. Stipulas rounded, cut. Flowers nearly upright. Styles naked. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This is a very well-known plant, which is common in woods and hedges all over 
England, and which produces its pretty yellow flowers from June till August. The receptacle is very much 
elevated, and the styles of the carpels, being long and hooked, when dry stick to any object that touches them. 
The root was formerly highly valued in domestic medicine; and wine which the roots have been boiled in, is 
still reckoned to be very efficacious in many diseases. The plant is also said to prevent ale from turning sour ; 
and it was formerly supposed to be a remedy against the plague. The plant is a perennial, and it flowers from 
June till August. 
2.— THE WATER AVENS. (Geum rivale, Lin.) 
Varieties. —G. r. /8. intermedium, Seringe, G. intermedium, 
Ehrh.; G. r. y. luxurians, Traltennich, G. hybridum, Wulf. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 106; 2nd ed., t. 743; and our fig. 7, 
in PI. 33. 
Specific Character. — Radical leaves interruptedly pinnate, some¬ 
what lyrate. Stipulas ovate, acute, cut. Flowers drooping. Styles 
hairy above the curvature. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This plant is very common in marshy ground on the borders of ponds or ditches, 
particularly in the north of England. It is a perennial, and produces its flowers in June and July. One of the 
varieties has hairy leaves, and the other has semidouble flowers with distinct leafy sepals. The root of both the 
species and varieties is used in medicine, like that of the common Avens. 
GENUS IX. 
THE MOUNTAIN AVENS. (Dryas, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. ICOSANDRIA POLYGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx 8 or 9-parted, without external brae- placed on a dry receptacle. Seed ascending. Herbaceous plants, with 
teolae. Petals 8 or 9. Stamens indefinite. Fruit consisting of simple leaves, hoary beneath, and white flowers. (Lindley.) 
numerous small nuts, tipped with the persistent feathery styles, and 
Description, &c. —This genus differs but slightly from the common Avens; the principal points of' 
distinction being, that the sepals and petals are more numerous in Dryas than in Geum , and that the styles are 
feathery instead of being naked. The leaves are also simple and hoary beneath, instead of being compound. 
The plant is called Dryas from the Greek name for the Oak, on account of some imagined similarity in the 
leaves. It is placed in the same Linnaean class and order as the preceding genus. 
1—THE COMMON MOUNTAIN AVENS. (Dryas octopetala, Lin.) 
Engravings.— Eng. Bot., t. 451 ; 2nd ed., t. 745 ; and our Jig. 8, I Specific Character. —Petals 8. Leaves oblong, notched, downy 
in PI. 33. ; beneath. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —This very beautiful plant is the only one of its genus that is found wild in Great 
Britain. Its beautiful large white flowers appear in June and July, and are very conspicuous from the 
manner in which the plant throws out its runners, which take root and form patches, often of considerable 
