RED 



special annoyance to wool-growers, as its prickly fruit adheres 

 tvith pertinacity to the fleece of sheep. Its common name is a 

 translation of its generic title and refers to the shape and texture 

 of the leaves. The dull red flowers appear in summer. 



PIMPERNEL. POOR-MAN'S-WEATHER-GLASS. 



Anagallis arvensis. Primrose Family. 



Stems. — Low ; spreading. Leaves. — Opposite ; ovate ; set close to the 

 stem; usually with dark spots. Flowers. — Bright red, occasionally blue or 

 white; growing singly from the axils of the leaves. Calyx. — Five-parted. 

 Corolla. — Five-parted; wheel-shaped. Stamens. — Five, with bearded fila- 

 ments. Pistil. — One. 



This flower is found in clefts of rocks or in sandy fields, and 

 is noted for its sensitiveness to the weather. It folds its petals at 

 the approach of rain and fails to open at all on a wet or cloudy 

 day. Even in fine weather it closes in the early afternoon and 

 ''sleeps" till the next morning. Its ripened seeds are of value 

 as food for many song-birds. It was thought at one time to be 

 serviceable in liver complaints, which reputed virtue may have 

 given rise to the old couplet : 



" No ear hath heard, no tongue can tell 

 The virtues of the pimpernell." 



EUROPEAN HAWKWEED. DEVIL'S PAINTBRUSH. 



Hieraciiun atirantiacum. Composite Family. 



Stem. — Hairy; erect. Leaves. — Hairy; oblong; close to the ground. 

 Flower-heads. — Orange-red; composed entirely of strap-shaped flowers, 

 clustered. 



In parts of New York and of New England the midsummer 

 meadows are ablaze with the brilliant orange-red flowers of this 

 striking European weed. It is among the most recent emigrants 

 to this country and bids fair to become an annoyance to the 

 farmer, hence its not altogether inappropriate title of devil's 

 paintbrush. In England it was called "Grimm the Collier," 



s60 



