WEEDS 251 



A prostrate, trailing plant, often found bordering the garden 

 paths, blossoming rather early. Flowers in clusters in the axils. 

 Near the fence, close by, is its near relative, 



55. Catnip 



N. Cataria, a European species. The plant is covered 

 with a great deal of whitish down. The leaves are heart- 

 shaped, coarsely toothed, petioled. Flowers white or purplish, 

 crowded in spikes. 



Catnip-tea is an old-time remedy for colds and fevers. 



56. Dead-nettle 



Lamium amplexicaule. — Faniih, Mint. Co/or, purplish. 

 Leaves, rounded, deeply toothed, those above clasping the 

 stem; the lowest long-stalked. Time, May to October. 



Corolla, small, tubular, 2-lipped, the lips quite open, the 

 upper rounded and concave; the lower flat, hanging, with 

 small side lobes, spotted. The flowers are in whorls or heads, 

 like many of the mint family. 



57, Amaranth. Rough Pigweed 



Amardnthus retrof/exus. — Family, Amaranth. Color, 

 green. Leaves, ovate, or the upper lance -shaped, pointed, 

 long-petioled. Time, August to October. 



Sepals, 5, tipped with a point. Corolla, wanting. Stafnens, 

 5, awl-shaped. Bracts, 3, under the flowers, which are col- 

 lected in dense axillary and terminal spikes. Height, i to 10 

 feet. 



58. Thorny Amaranth 



A. spinosus is a weed more troublesome southward. A pair 

 of rigid spines occurs in the axils of the leaves. Stem red- 

 dish, I to 4 feet high. 



