Part 9

Found from May to August in waste grounds around dwellings, and along hedgerows.

The branching stalk grows from 2 to 3 feet in height; it has a saffron juice, and is covered with scattering, weak hairs; green.

The deeply divided leaf is cut into 5 or more oval irregular lobes which are not quite opposite in their occurrence, the terminal lobe being larger than the others; it is short-stemmed, with a rather weak fibre and smooth surface; the margin is notched in large rounded scallops and the color is yellow-green. The arrangement of the leaves is alternate.

The 4 oval petals of the flower are a lustreless orange-yellow color; the many stamens are yellow, and the pistil is green; the 2-parted calyx falls early.

This weak-fibred plant is of a somewhat sprawling growth; the leaf is more pleasing in shape than in color.

FUMITORY FAMILY.

FUMARIACEÆ.

*Dutchman’s Breeches.* Dicentra Cucullaria.

Found in rich, moist woodlands in April.

The flower-stems and leaves (from 5 to 8 inches in height) spring from the root.

The large feathery leaf is many times divided and sub-divided in groups of threes, the margin being entire. In texture it is thin and delicate, the surface being noticeably cool to the touch; in color, gray-green, bluish underneath. It is borne on a pale, juicy stem, which is tinged with pink or reddish at the foot. Several leaves spring up enclosed by 2 or 3 dry, reddish sheaths.

The petals of this curious flower are 4 in number, one pair being joined together to form a 2-spurred heart-shaped bag, with its spurs spread widely apart; the other 2 petals held within the narrow mouth of the bag are very small, and join their tips over the slightly protruding stamens; the texture is very thin and delicate and slightly ribbed; the color of the petals is a pure white, the spurs being tipped with pure yellow. The 2 divisions of the small calyx hug the bag betwixt the spurs,--it is white, a trifle tinted with green. The foot-stem on which the bag hangs is small and pale; the flowers are set in a nodding row upon the long curving or upright stem, which is pale or tinted red.

In New England this is a less common variety than its sister Squirrel Corn, D. Canadensis, which is very like, though smaller and pink-tinted instead of yellow.

*Pale Corydalis.* Corydalis glauca.

Found in woodsy, rocky places during June and July.

The erect and leafy stalk grows from 6 to 15 inches in height, and is slender and smooth, with a slight bloom, which makes its color a pale or whitish-green.

The pretty leaf is not large; it is compound, its 3 leaflets being sub-divided and cut into deep scallops on the entire edges; the ribs are very delicate, the texture thin and fine and smooth; in color, a cool green, the underside whitened by a pale bloom. The lower leaves are on slender, smooth stems, and the upper clasp the stalk; they are placed alternately.

The flower is small, fragile and smooth in texture, and hung upside down; the corolla, like a one-sided flat bag with a round bottom and a 2-lipped mouth, is pale pink, the lips being golden; the 2-parted calyx is pinkish. Three or four flowers hang in terminal groups on slender reddish stems.

The seed-pod is out of all expectation long, frequently over an inch in length, but very slender. The whole plant has a smooth daintiness, and especially is the leaf pretty.

MUSTARD FAMILY.

CRUCIFERÆ.

*Toothwort.* Dentaria laciniata. *Crinkle-root.* *Pepper-root.*

Found in flower, on the edge of thickets, in May.

A single stalk grows to the height of 6 or 7 inches; it is smooth, round, and juicy; light green.

The compound leaf is very deeply 3 times cut into long, narrow parts, with sharply notched edges; the texture is common (not to say coarse), and the color a full juicy green. Two or three leaves, on short foot-stems, grow in a whorl-like cluster about the stalk, a little below the flower-cluster.

The flower has 4 rounded petals spreading at the top; in texture rather thick, in color white, faintly tinged with violet; the 4-parted calyx is pale green, and the 6 stamens, 2 noticeably shorter than the others, are a dull greenish-yellow.

With the true vigor of its family this plant grows in small communities. It stays in bud a long time before the blossoms finally open. A number of small tubers are strung together on the roots, like beads on a necklace; pungent and peppery to the taste.

*Herb of St. Barbara.* Barbarea vulgaris. *Yellow Rocket.* *Winter Cress.*