102 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 



Here too, may be found the round leaved sun-dew, carnivor- 

 ous in habit, a plant about which much has been written by 

 Erasmus Darwin, his distinguished grandson, and other noted 

 observers. 



One notices in the fields tall and slender spikes of the blue 

 lobelia, garnet gems of Deptford pink, and yellow stars of 

 St. Johnswort. Nature is especially fond of yellow, and keeps 

 something of that hue all summer. Thus in some sections 

 the roadside will show in succession, coltsfoot, ragwort, St. 

 Johnswort, yellow-topped chrysopsis, pretty little sensitive 

 plants, autumn dandelions, and last of all, golden-rods. Thus 

 is she lavish of her gold. 



A very pretty and delicate wayside flower of midsummer 

 is meadow beauty, Rhexia, with its peculiar funnel-like sta- 

 m.es, and four crimson petals. We may note, too, fine tufts 

 of white meadow rue, groups of yellow, red, and orange 

 lilies, slender blue iris, viburnums, cornels and button-ball. 



Few people seem to know how many and varied are our 

 clovers. Besides the fine old familiar dark red one, of forage 

 fame, there is the little running white one, the lovely pink 

 alsike, the Hungarian with its crimson pompon, and the two 

 yellow hop clovers. Then, in dry districts rabbits-foot is 

 common, with calyx teeth silken and feathery. It is a dainty 

 little plant, like most of its kind adventive from Europe. Do 

 not mistake the lucerne medick and alfalfa for clovers, nor 

 yet the melilots white and yellow. They are of close affiliation, 

 but have pinnately compound instead of palmate leases. 



Surely any record of wayside flowers would be incomplete 

 that omitted the wild roses, raspberries and brambles. 



"Thy fruit full well the school-boy knows, 



Wild bramble of the brake. 

 Then put thee forth thy small white rose, 



I love it for his sake. 



