\ 



314 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



Suckers springing from the base of the stem help to propagate 

 the plant, which is a common growth on the edges of our light, 

 dry woods, i to 2 feet high. 



19 



Z. sulcatum has long and narrow leaves, with a pair of dark- 

 colored glands in place of stipules. The sepals are bristly 

 margined, sharp-pointed, three-nerved. Flowers yellow, rather 

 large, about \ inch across, on ascending branches that are 

 grooved or strongly angled. Plant 2 feet high or less. Pods 

 conspicuous, roundish. 



20. Wild Cranesbill. Wild Geranium 



Geranium maculaium. — Family, Geranium. Color, crimson 

 or pink-purplish. Leaves, 4 or 5-parted, the divisions wedge- 

 shaped, cut or lobed. Time, April to July. 



Sepals, 5. Petals, 5, on claws. Stamens, 10, 5 longer than 

 the others, with glands at their base. Fruit of 5 carpels, each 

 tipped with a long hooked beak. When ripe the valves burst 

 open elastically, setting the seed free. Flowers i, 2, or 3 to- 

 gether, from rough, hairy steins which grow from perennial root- 

 stocks. The older leaves become whitish, i to 2 feet high, 



A generous, willing bloomer, covering woods and fields, in their 

 time, with purplish bloom. The flower and fruit will bear study. 



The favorite garden geraniums {pelargoniums), with their vari- 

 ous colors and markings, are related to this humble wild flower. 



21. Fringed Polygala. Flowering W^intergreen 



Polygala paucifo/ia, — Family, Milkwort. CWor, crimson. 

 Peaves, small, mere scales below; larger above, broad, on short 

 petioles, 3 or 4 near the flowers. Time, May. 



Sepals, 5, but 2 of them, the wings, are broad, expanding, 

 and colored like petals. Petals, 3 in number, the lowest 

 one, the keel, larger than the other two and beautifully 



