270 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



Better known in gardens, from which it has escaped and 

 become wild in places. It is tall and covered with soft, hairy 

 down. Heavy, dense spikes of flowers, drooping and hand- 

 some. The sheaths at base of the leaves are hairy, often 

 turned back along the upper edge, i to 8 feet high. 



Originally from India. 



28. Snow-on-the-Mountain 



Euphorbia margindta. — Family, Spurge. Color, white. 

 Leaves, whorled or opposite, the upper conspicuously bor- 

 dered with white. Time, August. 



An erect, hairy plant, 2 to 3 feet high, with the flowers as 

 described in a previous chapter. This species is very showy, 

 the white leaves above setting off the smaller flowers, which 

 grow in 3 forked umbels. 



This is cultivated in New York and New Jersey. It is wild 

 westward and southward. 



29 



E. Cyparissias is another species escaped from cultivation. 

 It is low, 8 to 10 inches high, with narrow, crowded stem- 

 leaves, those above heart-shaped. Flowers in umbels. This 

 grows from a running rootstock. 



30 



E. Ldthyris is a smooth plant with stout stem, 2 to 3 feet 

 high, with thick, oblong leaves, those under the flowers often 

 heart-shaped. 



Occasionally found wild from New England to North Carolina. 



31. Blackberry Lily 



Gemm)ngia Chinensis. — Family, Iris. Color, deep orange- 

 yellow. Leaves, like those of iris, 8 to 10 inches long, folded. 

 Scarious bracts above. Time, July to September. 



