l8o FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



When Don Orsino, in "Twelfth Night," says that the music 



" Came o'er my ear like the sweet south 



That breathes upon a bank of violets. 



Stealing and giving odor," 



he could not have spoken of our American species, which, unlike 

 the English violet, has no scent. But our own is very dear to us. 

 It puts on no airs. It is a humble bit of color. It does not dis- 

 dain to brighten our dooryards or our pasture lands. It seems 

 to like human company, and it always has the same message: 

 " Spring is here." 



Later, cieistogamous blossoms are produced, which are fertil- 

 ized in the bud. 



10. Bladder-campion 



Silene Cucubalus. — Family, Pink. Color, white. Leaves^ 

 opposite, oval, or narrow. I'ime, summer. 



Calyx, 5 -toothed, veined, much swollen. Petals, 5, each 

 one divided, so as to seem like 10. Stamens, 10. Styles, 3. 

 Flo7vers, in loose panicles. 



A smooth plant, i foot high, easily known by its inflated calyx 

 and good-sized flowers. An imported species, now very common 

 in some parts of New England and New York, extending west- 

 ward to Illinois. 



11. Sleepy Catchfly 



S. antirrhina. — Family, Pink. Color, rose. Leaves, oppo- 

 site, long, narrow. Time, June to September. 



Calyx, 5-toothed. Corolla, of 5 notched, stalked petals, each 

 with a scale-like growth at the base of the blade. Stamens^ 

 10. Styles, 3. 



Slender, \\ feet high. Flowers in panicles, small. They open 

 in sunshine for a short time. Stems with swollen, sticky joints. 



12. Night-flowering Catchfly 



S. noctijlbra opens its white, divided petals only by night. 



