X 



l64 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



tubular, with an inflated throat, 2-lipped ; the upper hp entire, 

 the lower 3-parted, its middle lobe broad and notched. Stems, 

 smooth and square. Tall plants, i to 5 feet in height, with 

 showy spikes of pink flowers, crowded, overlapping one an- 

 other. 



From Vermont westward and southward. A slenderer and 

 lower variety, Denticiilata, is found in the Middle States. 



48. Halberd-leaved Tear-thumb 



Polygonum arifblium. — Family, Buckwheat. Co/or, pale 

 pink or white. Leaves, tapering, halberd-shaped, long, pointed, 

 stalked. Time, summer and early fall. 



Petals, none. Calyx, 5 - parted, green, with pink edges. 

 Stamens, 8. Styles, 3. Flowers, few, in loose racemes. 



Like a cat's fur, this plant must be stroked the right way — that 

 is, downward. The stem is then as soft as satin. But run your 

 finger upward, a thousand vicious little prickles stand up and 

 scratch you. It is then a tear-thumb. By means of these prickles 

 the plant climbs over every other herb and shrub which chances 

 to be its neighbor. 2 to 6 feet long. 



49. Arrow-leaved Tear-thumb 



P. sagittcltiim has short-stalked, arrow-shaped leaves. The 

 flowers — white, in little knots or buttons — are on the ends 

 of the branches. The prickles on this species are rather 

 more savage than in the other. Both are common in moist, 

 low grounds. 



I; ^ I ^ ^ 50. Nodding Lady's Tresses 



" Spirdnthes cernua or Gyrbstacltys ceriiua. — Family, Orchis. 

 Color, white. Leaves, long, narrow. Time, fall— September, 

 October. 



This is, perhaps, the commonest of the orchids. The different 

 species of lady's Tresses are much alike, all being known by the 

 twisting of the spike of flowers. In this species the flowers are 



