Part 51

*Common Pimpernel.* Anagallis arvensis. *Poor Man’s Weather Glass.*

Found in waste places and sandy soil, from June to September.

The several stems of this spreading plant lie upon the ground in a close mat; they are square, the sides being twisted; smooth, shining, and light green. They are commonly about 6 inches in length, but vary somewhat.

The small oval leaf is widest at the base, entire, weak and loose in texture, and dull green, the under side speckled with faint purple dots. The leaves occur in pairs at regular intervals.

The pretty little flower is very variable in color; its 5-parted and round-pointed corolla is purple, blue or white sometimes, but most commonly is orange-red with a violet ring in the center, while the collar which unites the 5 white stamens (they have yellow tips) is red-violet--a curious color combination. The calyx is 5-parted, shallow, and green. The flowers, on thread-like stems, occur in pairs, springing from the angles of the leaves along the stalk.

The lowest buds open first; the blossoms last but a day,--they do not often spread in overcast weather, nor open until the sun is shining full, and they close by four o’clock in the afternoon. This habit causes the folk-name, which is more surely applicable to the plant when it grows by the sea, for though it is found inland in a flourishing condition, it is never acclimated thoroughly enough to adjust its reckoning with the weather, and is continually making false forecasts in its calculations.

DOGBANE FAMILY.

APOCYNACEÆ.

*Spreading Dogbane.* Apocynum androsæmifolium.

Found along the borders of wayside thickets in June and July.

The branching, woody-fibred stalk grows from 2 to 3 feet in height; it has a sticky, milky juice, and is smooth; dull-red on the upper side, greenish on the under.

The entire, smooth leaves are slightly pointed at the ends; dull green; they are set on extremely short stems in pairs.

The small bell-shaped flowers have 5 recurved points, and are white, striped on the inside with hair lines of pink; their 5 yellowish stamens are arranged in a short, pointed cone. They hang on short stems, in small clusters from the ends of the branches and the angles of the leaves.

Taken by itself the Dogbane’s flower is pretty, but the plant is sprangly in growth and awkward in gesture; its branches spread at an unpleasing angle, and the leaves are stiffly set. It is seen at its best among tall grasses, where only the pink bells of the flowering tips arise above the neighboring growths. The plant is much visited by a small iridescent green beetle.

*Indian Hemp.* Apocynum cannabinum.

Found on river banks during July and August.

This branching plant, from 2 to 3 feet in height, has milky juice, smooth and exceedingly tough bark, and is dull red in color.

The tip of the oval leaf is abruptly sharp-pointed; the margin is entire, the surface is smooth, and the color is dark green. The leaves are set on short stems, and placed in pairs.

The small and inconspicuous flowers are 5-pointed, and greenish white. They form small flat clusters on the ends of the branches.

The leaves and flowers have a faint pleasant odor. The plant is extremely awkward in gesture, without the redeeming grace of bloom belonging to its next of kin, the Dogbane.

MILKWEED FAMILY.

ASCLEPIADACEÆ.

*Four-leaved Milkweed.* Asclepias quadrifolia.

Found during June and July, in shady places, on dry uplands.

The stalk is leafy and slender, round, and tough fibred, and 1 or 2 feet high; it is downy with soft hairs; in color light green, with an indication of pink at the joints.

The oval leaf has a broad base and a sharp-tapering point; the margin is entire or slightly scalloped and wavy or ruffled, the ribs are prominent and hairy underneath, the texture is thin, and the surface is downy above; light green, with a whitey bloom,--pale underneath. The leaves, on slender short stems, are arranged in pairs, or in whorls of 4 of which 2 are smaller than the others; they occur at a considerable distance apart.

The flower is small and delicate in form and texture; its crown, of 5 tubes and 5 little horns, is tinted pale lilac, the 5 lobes are small, down-bent, and creamy pink; the calyx is light green; the foot-stem is long, and pale lilac color. The flowers are gathered in small globe-shaped clusters, set upon terminal pink stems.

Only a few flower-clusters occur on the plant, and the 4-leaved whorls are found midway the height of the stalk. The details of the whole plant are delicately perfected, and the quality of its leafage is pleasing.