FOG-FRUIT 



Phyla lanceolata (Michx.) Greene 



June - August 'V\\v iii;ir,L:in of the |ioii(l has its own peculiar 



Along ponds, damp pliiiit life which lirows ;mion<2: the <rrasses bending 



places over tlic water. There is Eelipta and there are 



cahmuis hcds, and a few cattails, perhaps some 

 swaiiip milkweed. And tlicic. low and almost iuvisihlc hut very much in 

 evidence from a frog-'.s eye view is the little fog-fruit. It is related to the 

 vcrhenas and if its llowcr head \ven> enlarged a lew (liametei"s it might 

 be adnured a> a most handsome wild llowcr. 



r>ut instead it has several pairs of rather coarse leaves like vervain 

 leave.«, and slender stems topped wiih miniaiin'e l)ou(|uets of flowers. The 

 blossoms are tiny and pinkish w hite or an- entirely white, arranged neatly 

 around a purplish, cone-like ceider. Many a child has gathered the liny 

 han(l-bou(piets of the fog-fi'uit to nuike cor.sages or doll-house table deco- 

 ration.s of them. They are miniatur(\s wliieh are not very noticeable when 

 viewed from the snpeiior height of an adult walking through the pond- 

 side gra.ss. 



But down at tlii'ii- own level they have a degree of small beauty 

 which lie.s in that certain perfection of a succe.'s.'^ful plant in its chosen 

 habitat, and the interest which large mortals find in looking at some- 

 thing snudl and perfect and complete. 



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