332 
naturalists’ calendar. 
II. NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR, 
OR OBSERVATIONS ON NATURE, FOR JULY. 
In almost all dry pastures, that small but handsome blue-flowering trailer, the 
common Milkwort, Polygala Vulgaris, (Fig. 45, I) may be found. It is supposed 
to possess the same medicinal properties as P. Senega, though it is but little used. 
In the same situations an abundance of the Upright Pearl-wort Sagina erecta 
(fig. 2,) grows, which is thought to be very nourishing food for sheep ; the flow¬ 
ers are white. In corn-fields, a little pink flowering annual, growing about three 
inches high, may be gathered in abundance. This is the little Field-Madder, 
Sherardia arvensis. The Knotted Spurrey Spergula nodosa, (fig. 3) grows 
plentifully on sandy heaths; it bears a white flower, and grows six inches high. 
In low and boggy places may be gathered the Anagellis tenella, or bog Pimper¬ 
nel, fig. 5, it bears a little pink flower, and grows about three inches high. 
On the Colours of Flowers. —A purple Columbine or blue Larkspur, 
held over a lighted match, changes first to pink and then to black. The usual 
varieties of these flowers are blues, reds, and whites. The yellow of other flow¬ 
ers continues unchanged, and the same is true of the green colour of leaves.— 
45 
The Primrose, winter aconite, yellow crocus, furze blossom, and daffodil all re¬ 
main unchanged ; but every other colour instantly disappears. If a scarlet, 
crimson, or marrow dahlia be tried, the colour changes, not to white, but to yel¬ 
low, a fact known to many persons, who thus variegate their growing dahlias.*— 
E. Blyth. 
Honey in Flowers. —It appears to be doubted what use the honey of flowers 
is calculated to serve. Dr. Darwin supposed, that the nectarious juice may be 
the food or nourishment of the pistillum and stamina. It may not be presump¬ 
tuous to throw out a further conjecture on this curious subject; namely, that the 
nectarious juice may supply the pollen itself, since that subject is totally differ¬ 
ent from any part of the plant, and may be produced by evaporation from the 
more solid parts of the honey, whilst the more glutinous and liquid serve to pro¬ 
duce that unctuous moisture which always pervades the stigma. This curious 
* Field Nat. Mag. 
