COMMON SKULL-CAP.

SCUTELLARIA GALERICULATA.

The

IN our summer rambles, especially on the banks of rivers or lakes and in swampy ground, we often see this little plant with its solitary bluish flowers in the axils of its bracts, and finding no resemblance to anything like a skull in it we wonder at its name. name of the genus to which it belongs-Scutellariais supposed to have reference to the likeness of the calyx to a sort of cup with a lid to it, called Scutella, or perhaps to a cap or head covering.

Dr. Withering tells us that "when the blossom falls off the cup closes upon the seeds, which, when ripe, being still smaller than the cups, could not possibly escape or overcome its elastic force, and must consequently remain in useless confinement. But nature, ever fruitful of resources, finds a method to discharge them. The cup being dry divides into two distinct parts, when the seeds, already detached from the receptacle, fall to the ground."

I

GROUND IVY.

NEPETA GLECHOMA.

FORMERLY we used to recognize this common little plant as Glechoma Hederacea of Linnæus, but it is now put in the genus Nepeta, and, like the last specimen, belongs to the labiate or lipped class of plants, LABIATE. It is one of our commonest hedgeside plants, and abound in woods and moist shady places. It is bitter and aromatic, and when the leaves are rubbed they give out a slight scent. It used to have a reputation as a remedy for consumption, and was collected to be made into tea with that object. Until the reign of Henry VIII. it was commonly used for making beer; and, indeed, as an infusion it is by no means an unwholesome drink as a substitute for tea when the latter cannot be obtained. It is called by old English writers Ale-hoof, Gillgo-by-ground, Tun-hoof, and Cat's-foot. It is still sold in the London herb shops, but is not a remedy recognized in the Pharmacopoeia. Mixed with wine it is said to take away the white specks which are sometimes seen in the eyes of horses and cows-" the pinne and wet or any griefe out of the eyes of horse or cow or any other beast"-being squirted into the same with a syringe.

BLADDER-WORT.

UTRICULARIA VULGARIS.

THE Bladder-wort is a pretty aquatic plant, abundant in our pools and water-channels, belonging to the family Lentibulaceæ. It is very remarkable for the buoy-like vescicles which are developed on its immersed leaves, and which serve to float the plant above the water. At certain seasons the whole plant is submerged, and then, if we examine these vescicles, we find them filled with water; gradually air becomes generated in the vescicles, expels the water, and the apertures are closed by a curious valve, so that the plant now becomes buoyant, and rises to the surface; the flowers expand, the seeds ripen, and then the living energy of the plant seems exhausted-air no longer fills the vescicles, but water takes its place, the plant sinks to the bottom, and the seeds are sown in their most fitting soil. The flowers are rather large, and of a yellow colour. The corolla has a short, conical, more or less curved, spur. The leaves are pinnate with numerous segments. In the eastern counties of England the Bladder-wort is not uncommon, and in many other localities it has been found, although it must be considered as rather rare.

SEA MILKWORT.

GLAUX MARTIMA.

SEA MILKWORT is common on nearly every sea-coast. It belongs to the family Primulaceæ, and is conspicuous from its rose-coloured tiny flowers, resting in the axils which its ovate fleshy opposite leaves form with its branched and procumbent stem. It is very pretty while growing, and is associated with some of our pleasantest sea-side rambles, and though scarcely attainable without incurring wet feet, it is worth the inconvenience; and those who are in health must not shrink from searching the salt marshes on the coast, for many very charming botanical treasures find their homes there.

PRIMROSE.

PRIMULA VULGARIS.

THE Primrose is a type of the natural order Primulaceæ. We select this plant because it is the real true primrose of our childhood-not the cowslip, with its deep yellow cups and nodding flowers-nor the oxlip, with its larger but paler blossoms; but the sulphur-coloured primrose with which we all associate the early days of spring, and the first ramble in the