gourd tribe. to examine the wort plantan T are now CONSTALLIT tier in detai appears in mas little flor= eye (Adonis), the one with its yellow, the other with its bright scarlet flowers, again remind us of Ranunculaceae; and on waste ground, especially if newly turned up, as on railway embankments, we have, with their flowers of mingled red and black, the Fumitories, of which, do what you will, you will find it difficult to make neat specimens, their cut and doubly-cut leaves are so inextricably confused together. Cruciferous friends meet us in the form of charlocks, wild mustard, &c.; and we now find the different species of Euphorbia, or spurges, with their acrid milky juice famed as a wart remedy. You must look for their stamens and pistils separate. Under the hedge-sides, the scarlet Lychnis diurna, and the white Lychnis vespertina so fragrant in the evening, are commonly found, and twining above them, probably, one or both of the bindweeds, better known as convolvulus, whether the small pink or the large handsome white. Nearly allied to the Lychnis, the Silene inflata, or bladder campion, is to be recognised by its blown-up calyx; which, however, is also found in the Silene maritima. Neither must we forget the various geraniums, or crane's-bills, alluded to more in detail last month; nor our old friends the composite flowers, represented by the handsome purple goatsbeard, or by the numerous genus of Hieraceum, or hawkweed, which so many mistake for dandelion. But here we must stop. Many a bright wild flower of "blessed form and dye" are we forced to leave unnoticed, in this month of floral abundance; but that is no reason why our readers should leave them to "blush unseen." Nay, let them find them for themselves es; we must not tell them all, but let somewhat remain for expectation. |