Part 22

Found in roadside thickets in early June.

This large, stout, stalk varies from 2 to 6 feet in height; it branches toward the top, is round, and grooved, and armed with strong recurved thorns; the new shoots are furnished with short, coarse hairs. The color in the old stalks is a vigorous russet-red, while the young growths are green.

The leaf is divided sometimes into 3 leaflets and sometimes into 5, each leaflet being set on a short foot-stem with the end one a little longer than the others; the margins are coarsely toothed, the ribs deeply marked, the texture coarse, and the surface covered with short hairs; the stem and midrib are furnished underneath with small strong prickles. The color is a coarse, warm green. The leaves are placed alternately, with narrow leafy wings at the stalk.

The 5 oblong petals of the flower taper into a narrow claw at the base; the color is pure white; the 5, pointed, light green calyx-parts alternate with the petals; the stamens are many, thread-like, and tipped with dark brown, while the several pistils form a rounding, pale green bunch in the center. The flowers, on their light green stems, form large cone-like clusters on the ends of the stalks.

The old canes are noticeable in winter and early spring for their fine russet-red, as they grow in plantations on the hillsides and along the lanes; this strong red coloring comes out in the autumn leafage, dark and rich though subdued in hue, and is held late in the vigorous fibre of the leaf. The gracefully formed flower blooms in profusion, early, though the fruit is longer than the other Blackberries in maturing; the fruit-clusters add another attractive feature to the plant, which is known as “only a common Bramble.”

*Dewberry.* Rubus Canadensis. *Running Blackberry.*

Found in dry fields, banks, and roadsides in June and July.

The stalk trails and runs; it is leafy, stout, and woody-fibred, with few, and small, prickles. In color dark red.

The leaf is divided into 3, or 5, or 7 leaflets of an oval shape, the middle one generally being wedge-shape, and set on a short stem; the margins are sharply toothed. The color is a full, vigorous green.

The flower petals are 5, long, rounded at the tip and tapering at the base; in color they are pure white. The stamens and pistils are pale; the 5-parted calyx is a pale silvery green. The flowers grow singly, or loosely clustered in twos and threes.

The blossom of the Dewberry is sweet-scented, with a fragrance resembling that of the Anemone, or Adder’s-tongue. Its berry has fewer, and larger grains, than the High-bush berry; when favorably developed it has a fine wild flavor.

*Running Swamp Blackberry.* Rubus hispidus.

Found in swamp lands, grassy woods, and copse borders during June and July.

The trailing, rather slender, stalk runs on the ground in varying lengths; its prickles are few and weak. The color is green and brown.

The leaf is small, usually with 3 leaflets that are broad-oval or wedge-shaped; the margins are toothed, ribs marked, and the surface is smooth and shining, while the fibre is tough. The color is dark green.

The 5 small flower-petals are white; the stamens and pistils many, but inconspicuous; the calyx 5-parted, and pale green. The small clusters of two or three blossoms spring from the new shoots.

The fruit is scanty, and small. The pretty, dark, glossy, green leaves turn a rich dull bronzy-red in the fall, and remain so throughout snow-time,--they form a pleasing incident in the bouquet, gathered by the lover-of-the-woods-in-winter.

*Purple Flowering Raspberry.* Rubus odoratus. *Scotch-Cap.* *Thimble-berry.*

Found among wayside tangles, and uplands, in July and August.

The branching, leafy, stalk grows from 3 to 5 feet high; it is large, of a tough, woody-fibre, and the surface is roughened by short sticky hairs. The color is rusty green, and reddish-brown.

The large leaf in general shape resembles a maple leaf, with 3 or 5 lobes, a tapering point, and a toothed margin; the ribs and veins form a strongly-marked network, the texture is loose, and the surface is somewhat rough. The color is a strong, full-toned, yellowish-green. The leaves are alternate in growth, and are set on long stems.

The large flower is rather like a Rose in appearance, with 5 large, rounded petals, and many light yellow stamens forming a ring around the center. The color of the freshly opened petals is a deep, bright crimson, becoming pale, and duller with time. The 5-parted, light green calyx is covered with small, sticky, red hairs, and the flower-stems are also sticky. They grow in loose clusters, from the ends of the branches.

On cool or cloudy days the blossoms show a deep clear color, not to be discerned on hot days which speedily change them to a light bluish-pink. The fruit resembles that of the red raspberry, though it is a much shallower cup shape; the plant continues flowering after the berries begin to ripen. The bush is large and shrubby in growth, with many leaves.

*Meadow Sweet.* Spiræa salicifolia. *Queen of the Meadows.*

Found in thickets, and along moist banks, during July and August.

The bushy stalk bears many branches, and is very leafy; between 2 and 3 feet in height; it is round, strong and firm-fibred, and covered with a very thin, fine bark of a beautiful, glossy, golden-bronze hue.

The pretty leaf is oval, with a pointed tip, and finely notched margin; the ribs are prominent underneath, the texture is firm, the upper surface is smooth, while it is slightly rough underneath. In color it is a full green, lighter somewhat underneath, the midrib pale. The leaves are set on short up-springing stems, and the arrangement is close and alternate.

The small petals are 5 in number, shell-like, and pinkish-white; there are many rosy stamens; the calyx is small, 5-parted, and pale green. The flowers are set on thread foot-stems in little loose spires, that form a large, leafy terminal spire.