Part 13

*Common Chickweed.* Stellaria media.

Blossoming around dwellings in spring, summer, and autumn.

Its weak-fibred stem, lopping over the ground, is green, and smooth, with a barely visible little line of hairs down one side.

The small oval leaves have entire edges, and a smooth surface; they grow in pairs and are of a full green color.

The 5 white petals of the small flower are so deeply notched as to look like 10 very narrow ones; they are shorter than the 5 green calyx divisions; the flowers grow singly on short foot-stems, from the leaf-angles.

The Chickweed is a common plant of the dooryard, but without the usual obnoxious habits of a “weed,--” it is unobtrusive in demeanor, and, the roots having but a slight hold on the ground, is easily removed where undesired. It is a natural weather-glass, and can be trusted not to open its starry eye when rain threatens. The “Hen’s Inheritance” is an English folk-name for this plant.

*Long-Leaved Stitchwort.* Stellaria longifolia.

Found blossoming in June, in the tall grasses of wet meadows.

This almost thread-like and weak-fibred stalk varies from 6 to 15 inches in height, and is branching and leafy, almost square, with somewhat roughened angles, and pale green color.

The long grass-like leaves are very taper-pointed at each end, thin, and smooth, and in color full green, paler underneath; they are set upon the stalk in pairs, at long intervals.

The flower is small; its 5 petals cleft so deeply as to give the appearance of double the number, very fine and delicate in texture, and pure white, the 5-parted spreading calyx being green, while the 10 silky thread-like stamens are white. The flowers, on long, slight stems, spring singly from the angles of the leaves.

A few-flowered fragile plant, with its tiny star-flowers and sparse flat leafage, this Stitchwort loves to grow among rank sedges and swamp grasses, from whose sturdy rectitude it may claim support and protection.

*Sand Spurrey.* Buda rubra.

Found on sandy barrens in blossom during June.

This very modest little plant is seldom more than 2 or 3 inches high, with its single, round, slender, and smooth stalk of a light green color, with red rings at the leaf-joints.

The small narrow leaf is entire, flat, a trifle thick in texture, and dusty green in color. The leaves occur in pairs that box the compass around the stalk in little groups, and sit very close together; a dry sheath encircles the stalk at their junction.

The very small flower has 5 scoop-shaped petals, fine in quality, and pale lilac inclining to pink in color, and several pale yellow stamens; its 5 calyx-parts are sometimes longer than its petals and are hairy, and gray-green, with pinkish tips. Two or three flowers occur on the top of the stalk.

Only one flower opens at a time, but the calyx splits apart and shows the color of the petals a day before the bud opens. This smallest of the Pinks grows in such sociable crowds in sandy spots as to form a thick carpet, very pretty to discover when its close green is starred with its tiny flowers.

*Bouncing Bet.* Saponaria officinalis.

Found on dry soil, by the wayside and in the fields, blossoming in July through September.

The large leafy stalk, which grows from 1 to 2 feet high, is stout, slightly rough, and noticeably enlarged at the joints. Its color is green, or more often a dark crimson.

The oval leaf, tapering at the tip, clasps the stalk at the foot; it is 3-ribbed and the middle-rib being a little short the blade is fulled to it on either side; it has a smooth surface, and is of a thick texture; the color is a grayish-green (usually dusty). The leaves are opposite in growth.

The flower is large, about 1 inch across, with 5 petals, broad and slightly notched at the top, and extended down into a narrow stem-like base, which is confined within the long cylindrical calyx; at the spread of the broad part of the petal are two little thread-like fringes. The color runs from white to pink, the 10 stamens are pale yellow, and the long, 5-notched calyx is a pale yellowish-green. The pistil divides at the tip into two curling spires.

Stocky and sturdy in growth, hearty and wholesome in nature, Bouncing Bet grows in great communities along the waysides, and railroad embankments; it is a little ragged in attire, owing to the habit the flowers have of drying up in the calyx. It looks its best under a gray sky.

*Night-Flowering Campion.* Silene noctiflora. *Gentlemen’s Hats (N. H.).*

Found along roadside thickets in July and August.

The sparingly leafy stalk branches in an angular fashion, and grows from 1 to 3 feet high; although stout, the branches are slender; it is round, hairy, and sticky to the touch; light green.

The large leaves are sometimes 3 inches long; near the foot they are oval in shape with a wavy edge, above they are long and narrow; the margins are entire, the surface hairy and gummy to the touch; green. They completely clasp the stalk and are united in pairs, the pairs being set at right angles to each other.