64 



Fig. 23. 

 Blue Weed, Viper's Bugloss, Blue Thistle, or Blue Devil. 



Echiura vulgar e, (L). 



A biennial weed naturalized from Europe, with deep tap root, 

 which penetrates to a great depth. During the first year, the portion 

 above ground is a rosette of leaves ; and from the centre of this, next 

 season, bristly, hairy, and erect stems arise one to two and a half feet 

 high. The leaves are oblong, two to six inches in length, with both 

 upper and lower surface hair)^ The flowers are numerous, arranged 

 in a rich spire, and are azure blue in color. The seeds are hard and 

 brown in ^^color, with a broad base and angular body ^ in. long (Fig. 

 23a). An average plant pi'oduces 8,500 seeds. The seeds are prob- 

 ably dispersed in winter by the wind, as they remain for a long time 

 the plant. 



Its names, both Latin and English, are significant of the notioa 

 that it was an effectual remedy against the bite of a viper. 



The weed prefers gravelly and lime soils. 



Time of flowering, July-October. 



'I ime of seeding, August-October. 



Dispersal-^by seeds, especially in winter when they are blown 

 over the snow. 



Eradication. This weed gives very little trouble in arable land, 

 if the cultivation is at all thorough. In fence corners, on roadsides, 

 and in waste places, cutting below the crown with a spud, is practi- 

 cally the only effective method of destroying the weed. Sometimes, 

 however, this is impracticable, because of the number ; and in such 

 cases, some special treatment, similar to that recommended for the 

 Dock (Fig. 5) may be resorted to. 



