268 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



G. Flowers Purple. 



I. Flowers irregular. 



1. Plants low, spreading; leaves compound with many small leaf- 



lets; flowers clustered, i^ inch long Vetches (Vicia) 



2. Plant tall; flower cluster elongated, wand-like; leaves radiately 



lobed Larkspurs (Delphinium) 



II. Flowers regular or nearly so. 



1. Flowers very small, on a thick stalk which is covered by a green- 



purple hood Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema) 



2. Flowers an inch or so across, wide open. 



a. Petals 3; leaves narrow Spiderworts (Tradescantia.) 



b. Petals 5; leaves broad and radiately lobed. 



Wild Geranium {Geranium) 



3. Flowers funnel-shaped; leaflets 3 on each leaf. 



Purple Sorrel iOxalis) 



4. Flowers with the 5 petals bent sharply backward. 



Shooting Star (Dodecatheon) 



5. Flowers tubular, somewhat irregular at the mouth; perfect 



stamens only 4 Beard Tongriie (Pentstemon) 



6. "Flowers" compound, of many small flowers, and resembling a 



simple flower, li^ to 2 inches across; plants low. 



Purple Daisy (Tovmsetidia) 

 (In central and western Nebraska where it is abundant.") 



OUR COMMON SUMMER FLOWERS. 



BY CHARLES E. BESSEY. 



The abundance and richness of our summer wild flowers has been the 

 admiration of every lover of flowers ever since the prairies were first seen 

 by white men, but this very richness and abundance of species has dis- 

 couraged many an amateur botanist who has wished to make their closer 

 acquaintance. "What shall I call this pretty flower?" is the question 

 that has been asked by nearly every new-comer to the prairies, who wishes 

 for a familiar name, but who has not the time to find it by the study of 

 the rather difficult botanical manuals. 



Now I can not hope to make an easy "short cut" to the names of all 

 of our summer flowers, for there are too many of them, but it is possible 

 to point out Avith sufficient exactness those kinds that are most striking 

 and that are most noticeable, and this must suffice until the publication of 

 the key to Nebraska plants, now nearly completed by Mr. Petersen.* Of 

 course, even In such an article as this it is necessary for the seeker after 



* Mr. Niels F. Petersen has nearly ready for publication a descriptive 

 catalogue of the flowering plants of Nebraska based upon the State Her- 

 barium in the University of Nebraska. When published it will enable 

 any one to find the name of any of our native flowering plants. 



