BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
191 
wild Hyacinth is the Hare-bell of the poets; but this can hardly be, as the colour is by no means a cerulean blue, 
and the stem of the wild Hyacinth is much too thick to rise again elastic when trodden upon, as is described by 
Scott, in the following beautiful lines :— 
“ A foot more light, a step more true, 
Ne’er from the heath-flower dash’d the dew ; 
E’en the slight hare-hell raised its head, 
Elastic from her airy tread ! ” 
2. — THE SPREADING BELL-FLOWER. (Campanula patula, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 42 ; 2nd ed., t. 297; and our fig. 4, 
in PI. 41. 
Specific Character. —Radical leaves obovate, or elliptic-lanceolate; 
the rest linear-lanceolate ; all even, crenate, and roughish. Stem with 
several fringed angles. Panicle spreading. Calyx minutely toothed. 
[Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This is a biennial plant, growing in the south-eastern counties of England. The flowers 
are of a brilliant dark purple, and appear in July. The plant is bitter, and abounds in a milky juice ; but cows 
are very fond of it, and frequently eat it down to the root. 
; THE RAMPION BELL-FLOWER. (C. Rapunculus, Lin.) 
This species has a thick, milky root, bearing some resemblance to that of a radish in appearance, and that of a 
parsnep in sweetness. It was formerly cultivated in kitchen gardens as a vegetable, and eaten both raw, in salads, 
and boiled. The plant grows about three feet high; and it has an angular stem, which is rough on the lower 
part, and rather small, dingy purple flowers, which appear in July and August. 
THE PEACH-LEAVED BELL-FLOWER. (C. persicifolia, Lin.) 
This species is very handsome; but it is very unlike most of the other kinds, as it consists of one single 
erect flower, which resembles in shape the common Hare-bell, though it is much larger. It is somewhat rare in 
this country, and has been only found in one place in Scotland. 
THE GIANT BELL-FLOWER. (C. latifolia, Lin.) 
This species is very common in the north of England and in Scotland, though it is comparatively rare in the 
south. It is a large, coarse-growing, perennial plant, four or five feet high, with broad, hairy leaves, and a very 
milky root. The flowers, which are very abundant, are produced in August, and are generally purple, though 
they occasionally vary to a pale rose-colour, and sometimes to white. 
THE CREEPING BELL-FLOWER. (C. rapunculoides, Lin.) 
This species, which differs very little in appearance from the Canterbury Bell of the gardens, is only found 
wild in Yorkshire and the south of Scotland. The plant is a perennial, and where it has once established itself, 
it increases rapidly by its creeping roots. The flowers appear in July and August. 
THE CANTERBURY BELL. (C. Trachelium, Lin.) 
This very beautiful species, which is also sometimes called the Nettle-leaved Campanula, is abundant in every 
part of England where the soil is sandy or gravelly, and it is particularly plentiful in the beautiful woods near 
Guildford and Godaiming in Surrey. It is, however, called the Canterbury Bell because it is considered to be 
more plentiful in the neighbourhood of that city than anywhere else. There is a variety of this species with 
white flowers, which is very delicate. 
