t^ 



6 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SIVA MP 



Sipais and petals, each 5. Many stamens, 5 styles, and a 

 5 -celled rtd pod. 



This is one of the tallest of the St. John's-vvorts, reaching 5 

 feet, bearing large, showy blossoms, 2 inches across, and large 

 pods. Flowers, in cymose bunches. The dots in the leaves can 

 best be seen by holding them to the light. 



6. Jewel-weed. Balsam. Touch-me-not 



Impdtiens pallida. — Family, Geranium. Color, yellow, 

 somewhat spotted with brown. Leaves, alternate, oval, with 

 petioles, toothed. Time, July-September. 



Flower, irregular. Calyx, colored, yellowish, like a corolla, 

 of ji^ sepals. One of the sepals forms a broad sac ending in a 

 curved spur, which is the prominent feature of the flower. 

 Petals, 2, each 2-lobed. Stamens, 5. /W, 5-valved. 



When ripe, the pod bursts, each valve curling upward and 

 throwing the seeds to some distance. The plant bears also 

 smaller and more fertile fiowers, which are fertilized in the 

 bud. The larger ones seldom bear fruit. A similar species is 

 deeper yellow, more spotted, with a longer, narrower sac and 

 spur {I.fulva). The two are often found growing together, 

 'i'his plant loves wet soil, along roadsides, near running 

 streams, or springs, or in wet dells, where it masses itself. 

 It is sometimes quite tall, 4 to 6 feet. 



Scarcely any plant by its numerous common names proves it- 

 self dearer to the common people. Lady's eardrops, silver-leaf, 

 touch-me-not, lady's slipper, refer to the pendent blossom, or the 

 silvery appearance of the leaf when held under water, or the 

 seeming touchiness of the pod, which, when ripe, goes off with 

 the slightest handling. 



7. Ditch Stone-crop 



'^ ^ Pinthorum sedo'ides. - Family, Orpine. Color, yellow. 

 Leaves, scattered, lance- shaped, pointed, not fleshy. Time, 

 July to October. 



