[IX]
BOGS, MARSHES AND WET PLACES IN SPRING
The cold soils of bogs, marshes, and other wet places do not produce a very great variety of flowers during the spring months; but some there are which appear in great profusion; and others, though less conspicuous, are sufficiently abundant and interesting to be included in our list.
Our first is the beautiful Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) of the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceæ), which is exceedingly abundant in marshes and by the sides of muddy ditches in most parts of Britain, flowering from March to June. It is represented on [Plate V], and may be distinguished at once from the other members of its family by its glossy leaves, and its large flowers, varying from one to near two inches in diameter.
A little later in the season we may meet with the pale blue or lilac flowers of the Marsh Violet (Viola palustris—order Violaceæ), which generally make their first appearance in April, and continue until June or July. The plant is much like the well-known Sweet Violet in general appearance, but is smaller, with a creeping stock; and the whole is smooth with the exception of a few scattered hairs on the flower-stalks. Its leaves are either round, heart-shaped, or kidney-shaped, with slightly-waved edges, and often of a purplish hue beneath. The flowers are smaller than those of the Sweet Violet, scentless, with pale petals; and the spur of the corolla is very short and blunt. The plant is rather local in the southern counties of England, but is decidedly abundant in the bogs and marshes of North Britain.
Few of the spring bog-flowers are more interesting than the pretty little Sundews (Drosera), so remarkable on account of their carnivorous nature. A description of the three British species will be found in [Chapter XXIV], which contains also an account of their peculiar habits.
Coming next to the order Caryophyllaceæ we have to note two of the Stitchworts or Starworts (Stellaria)—slender plants distinguished by their opposite, pointed leaves; jointed stems; and little, white, star-like flowers. They have five sepals; five petals, deeply divided into two lobes; ten stamens; three styles; and a capsular fruit that splits longitudinally, with many seeds.
One of these is the Glaucous or Marsh Stitchwort (Stellaria glauca or S. palustris), which is widely distributed though not very common. The whole plant is slender, with a four-angled stem from six to eighteen inches high; and narrow, sessile, undivided leaves that taper to a point. Its flowers are solitary on axillary peduncles, from half to three-quarters of an inch in diameter, with petals much longer than the three-veined sepals. They first appear in April, and continue to bloom until August.
