Part 29

The minute white flowers are set close in the angles of the leaves and are hardly noticeable.

The Pennywort grows gracefully amongst the grass in moist places. One would hardly suspect, at a casual glance, that this weak-fibred vine could belong to the same family with the mighty Cow Parsnip.

*Field Parsnip.* Pastinaca sativa.

Found in roadside thickets, along meadow walls and fences, during July and August.

The large, widely branching stalk reaches the height of 4 or 5 feet; it is 4-, or occasionally 5-angled, very tough and woody-fibred, noticeably grooved, and its surface is coarse; dull green.

The compound irregular leaf is large: the root-leaves are cut into 7 to 11 divisions, each part again cleft into 3 or 5 parts,--the upper leaves are less compound; the leaflets are long oval, broadest at the base, the margins closely notched, the texture thin, but coarse, the surface smooth, the underside of the upper leaves shining. The color is a dull dark green. The root-leaves are on long stems, while the upper leaves are on shorter stems which clasp the stalk with wing-like membranes; these are grooved, and large, their edges roll together, and meet and lap about the stalk. The leaves are placed alternately, at considerable intervals apart.

The tiny flowers are yellow, they spread flat, to show the undeveloped seed-boxes, and are set on thread foot-stems in small, flat-topped, round clusters; these, on long, up-curving stems, form a large spreading cluster, upon a stout stem; they are terminal and from the angles of the leaves; several of these large clusters occur on a plant.

“’Twill raise a blister, if you touch it when the dew’s on’t!” says the farmer’s son. It has a strongly acrid odor when broken, a thing which is well-nigh impossible to accomplish. The seeds, shining and very flat discs, add to the decorative qualities of this conspicuous plant.

*Wild Carrot.* Daucus Carota. *Queen Ann’s Lace.*

Very common by the wayside and in dry fields, blossoming from July through September.

The round stalk, from 2 to 3 feet high, coarse in fibre, and roughened by short hairs, is light yellow-green in color.

The leaf has a very fringy effect, being much cut up into long narrow lobes; the surface is roughened; and the short foot-stem widens into a leafy, clasping sheath. The yellowish-green, alternate leaves are few, and far between.

The petal-like parts of the small clustered flowers are unequal in size and number,--three or four of the outer flowers in each cluster are larger than the rest; the color is white, with tiny yellow-tipped stamens. The flowers have pale green foot-stems, and grow in flat-topped clusters, each cluster being set around at the foot with a green leafy fringe. In the center of the cluster is often found a single dark purple flower.

Though the growth is sprangly, and the stem coarse, yet the flower is delicate with a lace-like quality. The seed-stems, curling inward, form a hollow, nest-like cup, from which characteristic it is often called the “Bird’s-nest plant.” It is deemed a great pest by farmers.

GINSENG FAMILY.

ARALIACEÆ.

*Wild Sarsaparilla.* Aralia nudicaulis.

Found on moist hillsides, and along thickets, in May.

The root sends up one tall leaf-bearing stem, from 12 to 15 inches in height, and beside it a short flower-stem.

The leaf is compound, sometimes doubly so, its leaflets long, oval, and sharp-pointed at the tip, with noticeable ribs, finely notched margins, and, when young, a very glossy surface; the foot-stems are 3, and of equal length, forking from the summit of the round, hard-fibred, shining stem. The leaf, when young, is strongly bronze-tinted; as it matures this fades, and leaves it a pleasing light green color; the stem is reddish at the joints, and near the foot.

The greenish-white flower is very small, its 5 petals are turned down on the little calyx, and the 5 long stamens are erect and alternate with them. The flowers are set on foot-stems in 3 flat-topped clusters, that are borne on round stems forking from the top of the main flower-stem.

The bronzy hue of the leaves companions the unopened buds,--by the time the flower-clusters are fully abloom the dark shining color has changed to green, the leaflets have grown much larger, and spread like a canopy ever the blossoms.

*Spikenard.* Aralia racemosa. *Spignet (Vt.).*

Found along rich woods and wayside thickets, in blossom in August.

A widely branching plant, from 3 to 6 feet high, with a large, strong, round stem; dull gray-black, not unlike willow charcoal in appearance.

The very large compound leaf is divided into 3 clusters, each one of which has from 5 to 7 leaflets, on short, curved foot stems; the leaflets are broad, of an irregular oblong shape, with a finely notched margin, and a slightly downy surface. In color a strong full green; with dark stems.

The very small flower has its parts in fives, and is greenish white; the flowers are on pale foot-stems and arranged in little round clusters; many small clusters together form the large compound group on the ends of the branches, and from the angles of the upper leaves.

In September the plant ripens a small red berry, of a spicy, resinous taste, agreeable to a confirmed wayfarer. The large joints are fitted together with excellent workmanship. This striking plant, with its wide-spreading, vigorous leafage, and dark stems, possesses highly decorative qualities; it is cherished by country folk, however, for the medicinal use they find for the root which is “good for a cough.”