Part 11

Plate 21, fig. 9

The Stickseed receives its name from the bur-like fruits covered with tiny hooks which cling tenaciously to objects that touch them. These fruits are somewhat injurious to animals that eat the plants. The tiny flowers are blue or white and are clustered on graceful stems 2-4 ft. high. They bloom all summer on hillsides and among bushes at 5000-10000 ft.

WATERLEAF FAMILY

Purple Fringe Phacelia sericea

Plate 21, fig. 6

The flowers of the Purple Fringe are blue-violet to deep red-purple, rarely white. They are densely clustered on low stems 6-15 in. high. They bloom in midsummer and possess a strong, disagreeable odor. The plants live in alpine meadows and rock-fields on high peaks at 10000-13000 ft.

SNAPDRAGON FAMILY

Speedwell Veronica americana

Plate 22, fig. 1

The Speedwell is a water-plant and its blue or white, purple-striped flowers may be found in wet meadows and about ponds at 4000-12000 ft. The stems grow 4 in.-2 ft. tall and the flowers bloom throughout the summer.

Gold Tongue Orthocarpus luteus

Plate 22, fig. 2

The common name is suggested by the appearance of the yellow flowers. These occur in stiff spikes on stems 4-16 in. tall and bloom all summer. They may be found on plains and in foothills and meadows at 4000-10000 ft.

Eyebright Veronica Buxbaumii

Plate 22, fig. 3

The Eyebright is a very close relative of the Speedwell. Some twenty of the species of Veronica have been used as drugs. The flowers are blue with darker stripes and bloom from early spring through the summer and fall. The stems are 6-16 in. tall and are found in waste places at 5000-8000 ft.

Monkey Flower Mimulus Langsdorfii

Plate 22, fig. 4

The yellow Monkey flowers grow on stems 6 in.-2 ft. high and are found in swamps and along streams, especially in muddy places, at 8000-12000 ft. They bloom in spring and summer. The Greek name of the genus means “comic actor” and refers to the grinning corolla, which also gives point to the common name.

Indian Paintbrush, Painter’s Brush Castilleia miniata

Plate 22, fig. 7

The brilliant red color of the Indian Paintbrush is furnished mainly by the upper leaves. The corollas are enfolded in the brightly colored bracts, which, clustered together at the end of the stem, give the effect of a gorgeous blossom. The plants are partial parasites and obtain their food ready-made from their neighbors. They grow 1-3 ft. tall and occur in foothills, mountains and forests at 6000-11000 ft. The flowers bloom all summer.

Blue-eyed Mary Collinsia parviflora

Plate 22, fig. 8

The blue or blue and white flowers of this plant grow on spreading stems 2-6 in. high. They occur on shaded hillsides at 5000-9000 ft. and bloom in spring and early summer.

SNAPDRAGON FAMILY

1 Speedwell: Veronica americana 2 Gold Tongue: Orthocarpus luteus 3 Eyebright: Veronica Buxbaumii 4 Monkey Flower: Mimulus Langsdorfii 7 Indian Paintbrush, Painter’s Brush: Castilleia miniata 8 Blue-eyed-Mary: Collinsia parviflora 9 Lousewort, Turtle Head: Pedicularis canadensis 10 Butter-and-eggs: Linaria vulgaris 11 Little Elephant: Elephantella groenlandica

BLADDERWORT FAMILY