This plant likes to grow in dry places, such as hedge-banks or at the
side of fields, and it blooms in summer.
The flowers grow one above the other on a tall spike, and they look like
small yellow stars. Those that grow lowest down on the spike come out
first, and the small green buds are crowded together near the top.
In the centre of the five yellow petals there is a ring of stamens, and
amongst those stands a fat, green seed-vessel with two horns at the top.
The calyx or green covering of the flower is the part you must notice
most closely.
It rises from a short stalk, and is shaped like a bell. There are ten
deep lines running from top to bottom of this green bell, and round its
mouth there are five large points.
Below these points is a curious ring of tiny hooks like a fringe, and
these cling to whatever touches them. You often find a dozen of these
little green bells fastened to your skirt if you have been where the
Agrimony grows.
The leaflets are dark and hairy. They grow opposite each other in pairs,
on each side of the leaf-stalk: first a large pair, then a small pair,
turn about, and you always find a single large leaflet at the very end.
Each leaflet is deeply cut round the edge and has teeth like the teeth
of a saw.
PLATE VIII: 1. COMMON NIPPLEWORT 2. AUTUMNAL HAWKBIT
3. YELLOW GOATSBEARD