BLUE AND PURPLE 



SEA LAVENDER. MARSH ROSEMARY. 



Stat ice Caroliniana. Lead wort Family. 



Stems. — Leafless; branching. Leaves. — From the root ; somewhat ob- 

 long ; thick. Flaicers. — Lavender color or pale purple ; tiny ; scattered or 

 loosely spiked along one side of the branches. Calyx. — Dry; funnel-form. 

 Corolla. — Small ; with five petals. Stamens. — Five. Pistil. — One, with 

 five, rarely three, styles. 



In August many of the salt marshes are blue with the tiny 

 flowers of the sea lavender. The spray-like appearance of the 

 little plant would seem to account for its name of rosemary, 

 which is derived from the Latin for sea-spray, but Dr. Prior 

 states that this name was given it on account of "its usually 

 growing on the sea-coast, and its odor." 



Blossoming with the lavender we often find the great rose 

 mallows and the dainty sea pinks. The marsh St. John's-wort 

 as well is frequently a neighbor, and, a little later in the season, 

 the salt marsh fleabane. 



SEA ROCKET. 



Cakile Americana. Mustard Family. 



Leaves. — Smooth; fleshy; obovate ; wavy-toothed. Floxvers. — Purplish; 

 small ; clustered. Calyx. ^Oi four early falling sepals. Corolla. — Of four 

 petals growing opposite in pairs. Stamens. — Six ; two inserted lower down 

 and shorter than the others. Pistil. — One. Fruit. — A short, two-jointed pod. 



In sand along the sea-shore this smooth, fleshy, branching 

 plant, with its purplish flowers, is a common feature. 



WILD BERGAMOT. 



Monarda fistnlosa. Mint Family. 



Two to five feet high. Leaves. — Opposite; fragrant; toothed. Flow- 

 ers. — Purple or purplish-dotted; growing in a solitary, terminal head, as in 

 Oswego tea, p. 264. Calyx. — Tubular; elongated; five-toothed. Corolla. 

 —Elongated; two-lipped. Stamefis.—Tvfo; elongated. Pistil.— One, 

 with style two-lobed at apex. 



Although the wild bergamot is occasionally found in our 

 eastern woods, it is far more abundant westward, where it is 



304 



