WILD FLOWERS OF NEW YORK 1 63 



I inch long on slender, short flower stalks; wings of the flower obovate; 

 crest of the corolla beautifully fringed. The base of the stems and root- 

 stocks bear numerous cleistogamous flowers on short, lateral, subterranean 

 branches. 



In rich, moist woods, New Brunswick to Saskatchewan south to 

 Georgia, Illinois and Minnesota. Flowering in May and June. 



Buckthorn Family 



Rhamnaceae 

 New Jersey Tea; Redroot 



Ceanothus americanus Linnaeus 



Plate 126 



A low shrub with several or many ascending stems from a deep 

 reddish root. Leaves alternate, ovate or oblong-ovate, i to 3 inches 

 long, one-half to i^ inches wide, pointed at the apex, blunt or slightly 

 heart-shaped at the base, pubescent, especially beneath, the margins finely 

 toothed, the blade conspicuously three-nerved; petioles usually less than 

 one-half of an inch long. Flowers small and white, in dense, oblong ckisters 

 on terminal or elongated axillary stalks; limb of the calyx tube five-lobed; 

 petals five, with narrow claws and bearded blades; stamens five, their 

 filaments slender and elongated. Frviit dark colored or nearly black when 

 mature, three-lobed, about one-sixth of an inch long. 



In sandy or dry open woods and fields, Maine to Ontario and Manitoba 

 south to Florida and Texas. Flowering from the latter part of May to 



July. 



Mallo-nr Family 



Malvaceae 

 Marsh Mallow; Wymote 



Althaea officinalis Linnaeus 



Plate 127 



An introduced plant, well established in certain salt marshes along the 

 coast, with erect, herbaceous stems, 2 to 6 feet high from perennial roots, 



