B ITT I'.R SWEET 209- 



row pi. lilt. .Almost (j\(_Ty road aiul hiiu- is lined with its dark-l)liie and 

 yellow hirid blooms in siniiiner, climhin;^' o\cr the hed^c. It is also 

 found commonly along the sides ot streams and water generally, where 

 hedges Hank them, for it is more or less a climbing plant. 



This is a rambling, climbing plant, with a wavy stem, woody, and 

 much branchetl, usuall}' smooth, with egg-shaped, heart-shaped leaves, 



Bittersweet {Sohiinmi Dii/nniiarn, L.) 



Flatters & Ganielt 



the upper ones lance-sha|)ed and spear-shaped, or clasping the stem. 

 The stem is hollow and nearly roimd. 



The flowers are borne in drooping c\mes, which are opposite the 

 leaves. The corolla is purple, with two rounded green spot.': below 

 each petal, the mouth black. The flowc-r-stalks are swollen at the base. 

 The cal\ \ is purple, and iloes not fall. The corolla is wheel-shaped, 

 with 5 lance-shaped segments, and turned back. The berries, at first 

 green, are red when ripe, egg-shaped, and poisonous. 



The plant may reach a length or height of 20 ft., but is usually 

 3-6 ft. It flowers in June and July. It is a herl)aceons perennial, 

 reproduced by cuttings, and is worth culiixating. 



There is no honey in the flower, and it is therefore but little visited 

 by msects. Rliiii<^ia 7'ostrata examines the two round, shining, green 



\0!.. IV. 60 



