48 WILD FLOWER FAMILIES 



the small, two-winged, gnat-like flies that are 

 found in moist places in the woods. These flies 

 carry the pollen from flower to flower as they 

 wander in search of the nectar. 



Meadow R\je. In July the great feathery 

 flower masses of the tall Meadow Rue are to be 

 seen in marshy meadows and along the borders of 

 lowland woods. The whole plant gives a very 

 decorative effect to the landscape it adorns. The 

 stems are slender and full of grace, while the 

 foliage is cut into numerous small leaflets rounded 

 behind and notched in front, and the delicate 

 blossoms look like foamy spray. The flowers are 

 not all alike : in general, the more conspicuous 

 white blossoms have stamens but not pistils, while 

 the less attractive greenish flowers have pistils but 

 not stamens. Still others are in a transition 

 stage, having both stamens and pistils in varying 

 numbers. This appears to be a plant wdiich is pol- 

 lenized both through the agency of the wind and 

 through that of the insects. The species is widely 

 distributed, being found from Labrador to Florida 

 on the Atlantic coast and extending westward 

 to Ohio. 



Buttercups. In those happy weeks during 

 the latter part of spring 



" When showers of buttercups 

 Are gilding the scene, 

 Like showers of gold dust 

 Thrown over the green." 



