72 WILD, OK XATIVE FLOWERS 



•Indian Hemp — Apocynnm cannabinum, (L.) 



The flowers of this species are white, small, and in terminal cymes, 

 the leaves are narrow, of a dark green, smooth \ the fibre in the bark of 

 this plant is very strong, as well as fine : the Indians u'^e this thread in 

 the manufacture of fishing nets and lineS; and probably in sewing. 

 The banks of streams and lakes seem to be the habitat of the Indian 

 Hemp. I am not aware that it has any scent. The scent of the pink 

 Dogbane is only given out after sun-set. 



White Dwarf Convolvulus — Day-Flower — Convolvulus 

 spilhaiiueus, (Pursh.) » 



Although so delicate and fragile in texture, there is no flower that 

 loves the sunlight in its noon-tide power more than this lovely wild 

 Convolvulus. In this, it differs from the splendid Morning Glory, 

 which opens early, in the freshness and coolness of the morning, but 

 fades before the noon-day heat and light : only on cool cloudy days 

 will it display its glorious tints of royal purple, rose, crimson, and 

 exquisite shades of pink, pearly-blue, and white. But our modest white 

 flower may be seen blooming in open fallows, and wild grassy plain- 

 lands, where it has little shade unless from the surrounding herbage. 

 The plant is seldom more than twelve or eighteen inches in height, 

 tapering from a broad base to a slender leafy point. The foliage is whitish 

 or hoary grey, from a minute downy covering. These grey leaves are 

 hastate, not arrow-shaped, pointed and lobed at the base ; the lower 

 leaves on long foot-stalks, the upper ones dimmished to mere bracts. 

 The flowers are large, purely white, open bells, on long stalks — only two 

 opening each day. The stem of the plant is somewhat woody, slightly 

 branching or simple, and forming a pyramid of slender apex, twining 

 .slightly and clasping the stalks of grasses and neighbouring heibs. 



On the flowery Rice Lake plains, I have seen this lovely flower 

 mingling its hoary foliage and white fragile bells with the gay bracts of 

 the Scarlet Cup and azure-blue spikes of the Wild Lupine, the Sweet 

 Pyrola and Wild Rose : and surely no garden ever shewed more 

 glorious colours or more harmonious contrasts than this wilderness 

 displayed. 



This pretty wild Convolvulus might be introduced into garden 

 culture, where the soil is light, without any fear of its becoming a 

 troublesome weed like the common Bindweed, or the double-blossomed 

 variety, which should only be kept as plants for a Trellis or as liower- 

 climbers. 



