OUR COMMON SUMMKR FLOWERS. 271 



ii. Leaves alternate, not prickly; flowers small. Notice that it 

 is the upper leaves that are white or white margined, giving 

 a beautiful appearaiue to the top of the plant. 



Snow-on-the-Mountain (Etiphorbia) 

 iii. Leaves opposite, large, flowers small; very common weed in 



fields Big Milkweeds (Asclepias) 



h. Juice not milky. 



i. Woody plants with flat flower clusters; the black berries are 



edible) Elder Bush {Samhucus) 



ii. Woody plants with round flower clusters; found near water 



in eastern Nebraska Button Bush (Cephalanthus) 



iii. Herbaceous plants. 



* Flowers large, regular about 2 inches across; found in 



western Nebraska White Star Flowers (Mentzelia) 



** Flowers large, irregular; common on high prairies, 



Wild Indigo (Baptisia) 

 *** Flowers small, greenish white, in loose spikes, leaves 



large Wild Orchids {Spiranthes) 



**** Flowers small, white, in solid spikes; leaves small, 



White Prairie Clover {K uhnistera) 

 ***** "Flower" compound, of many minute flowers, the whole 

 resembling a simple flower, 

 w. Leaves greatly divided; "flowers" small. .Milfoil (AcMllea) 

 X. Leaves somewhat divided; "flowers" large. Has come 

 into eastern Nebraska as a troublesome weed, 



Ox-eye Daisy (Chrysanthemum) 

 y. Leaves undivided; plant tall; is often grown for orna- 



; ment Boltonia (Boltonia) 



z. Leaves very small; plant spreading. .White Asters (Aster) 

 Here one may look for the ghostly. . . .Indian Pipe (Monotropa) 

 which is white throughout its stem, leaves and flowers. 



E. Flowers Blue. 



I. Flowers large, nearly or quite 2 inches across Wild Iris (Iris) 



II. Flowers smaller. 



1. Deep blue: plants smooth Blue Lobelias (Lobelia) 



2. Light blue; plants more or less hairy Wild Sages (Salvia) 



III. "Flowers" compound, of many minute flowers, the whole re- 



sembling a simple flower Blue Asters ( Asi(.r) 



F. Flowers Red. 



I. Flower open, saucer shaped; plants low, spreading; common in 



central and western Nebraska Red Mallows (Mah^asfrum) 



II. Flower closed, irregular; plant erect. This beautiful plant is 



rarely found only in southern Nebraska. .Cardinal Flower (Lobelia) 



