WEEDS OF MAINE. 269 



Order 23. BINDWEEDS — Convolvulace^. Chiefly herbs, 

 with trailiiig or twining' stems, numerous species parasitic. The 

 well known stveet potato, a native of the South, belongs here. 

 Many species are cultivated for ornament. 



84. Rutland Beauty — Hedge Bindweed — Morning Glory — Calysteyia septum. Pe- 

 rennial. Stem twining six to twelve feet high. Leaves two to four inches long, trian- 

 gular, halberd-shaped. Flowers large, two inches long, white, or generally tinged with 

 flesh or rose color. 



A rank twining plant, often introduced into yards and gai'dens 

 for its beauty ; but soon it becomes a most detestable weed, quite 

 as troublesome, and as difficult to eradicate as twitch grass or 

 couch grass, ( Triticum repens. ) It is a native of this State, and 

 is frequently found along the moist banks of streams and on low 

 grounds. The white and somewhat fleshy roots creep extensively 

 like those of twitch-grass. Farmers should try every means to 

 destroy this plant, as it is very injurious to crops. A method of 

 eradication similar to that recommended for the extermination of 

 Girsiuvfi arvense (Canada thistle, on page 263.) 



85. Flax Dodder — Cuscuta Epilinum. Annual. Stem thread-like, reddish orange 

 colored. Leaves, none. Flowers yellowish white, in small, dense clusters. 



We are not aware that this curious plant is troublesome, or even 

 found in this State ; we will make a few observations, however, 

 in regard to its habits, so that any one finding the plant may 

 be able to recognize it. It is a parasite on flax, and does much 

 injury to that crop in Europe. It is said to be sparingly intro- 

 duced with flax seed into the Northern United States. Devil's 

 guts and hell weed are common names for this rascally plant, and 

 are also applied to the next. 



86. The American Cuscuta, Dodder, or Love-weed — Cuscuta 

 Gronovii — is found abundantly in many parts of the State, on 

 low grounds, especially in shady places, and is parasitic chiefly on 

 the coarser herbs and small shrubs. The seeds of the dodder 

 take root in the soil, and soon the young plants are tall enough 

 to seize the °^stem of some fated golden-rod, around which it 

 quickly coils. At all places of contact with other plants the 

 dodder sends out short sucker-like roots, which penetrate the batk 

 of the doomed plant, and absorb the needed food. When a few 

 turns have been made around one plant, the dodder reaches out 

 for another and another, until it appears like a tangled mass of 

 brass or copper wire. We have seen patches of this plant several 



