WILD, OR NATIVE FLOWERS. 59 



Yellow-Flax — -Wild Yh.\y.—Linu»i sulcatum (Riddell.) 



This is a delicate little plant mostly found on dry sunny banks, 

 ■during the hot summer months. The blossoms resemble the common 

 blue Flax, but are smaller ; the narrow leaves are harder in texture and 

 the plant not more than one foot in height ; the flower falls very soon. 

 I do not know if the stem possesses the thready flax fibre of the 

 cultivated species ; its only recommendation is the pretty pale yellow 

 blossom. 



Canadian Balsam — I/npatiens fulva (^mH.) 



Our Wild Balsam is a singularly gay plant, with its profusion of 

 orange-coloured spotted flowers, light foliage and semi-transparent 

 stems. The Butterflies seem to take delight in hovering over the bright 

 blossoms, and the Humming-birds may be seen on sunny days with 

 outstretched beaks and wings, winnowing the air as they balance their 

 tiny bodies, while extracting sweets or insects from the curiously hooded 

 flowers. In the New England States it is known as the Humming-bird 

 Flower, but it has other pretty descriptive names, Jewe], Weed, Speckled 

 Jewel, and Touch-me-not. This last alludes to the sensitive nature of 

 the slender seed-pods, which burst at a slight touch, rolling themselves 

 into pretty rings and shedding abroad the seed. 



The flowers hang lightly, drooping on very slender thready stalks ; 

 when open the outer sepal of the coloured calyx forms a hooded cap 

 which reminds one of an old jester's cap and bells. It is only in the 

 single-flowered Balsam, under cultivation, that we see the curious hood 

 with its horn-like nectary ; but the elastic seed-pod is, like the wild 

 species, equally sensitive if touched. A strong colouring matter of 

 bright orange pervades the whole plant in our Wild Balsam — leaves, 

 stem and flower. The Indian women use the juice in dyeing, and also 

 apply it in Erysipelas caused by Poison Ivy and in other diseased states 

 of the skin. Our Balsam Ibves low wet soil. The low lake shore, and 

 forest streams are its favourite haunts, where it attains the height of three 

 and four feet. 



There are two species, Liipatiens fulva, distinguished by its deeper 

 coloured blossoms, orange, almost scarlet, and its brown spots, and 

 darker green leaves. 1. pallida (Nutt) is paler, and the markings on the 

 petals slighter, the foliage is much lighter, and the juice of the plant 

 more watery. 



Professor Lindley has given the Balsam a place among the garden 

 Nasturtiums. A very natural affinity seems to exist between the 

 Nasturtiums and Balsams as respects habits, form and colour. Dr. 

 Gray gives the Balsams an order to themselves. 



