The convict's flower

Book illustration of 'The convict's flower' from page 225 of 'The criminal prisons of London and scenes of prison life' by Henry Mayhew and John Binny. Having visited the burial ground for convicts from the prison hulk 'Defence' the authors record a legend "an old, old legend, that has passed down to the present time - about a little pale-blue flower, with its purple leaves - the 'rubrum lamium' - which, it is said, grows only over the convict's grave - a flower, tender and unobtrusive as the kindness for which the legend gives it credit. Botanists, however, will of course ruthlessly destroy the local faith that has given this flower value; for they will tell you it is only a stunted form of the 'red dead nettle'."