DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 129 



in mine opinion it is more like unto the bones of a sheep's 

 head that hath been long in the water, or the flesh con- 

 sumed clean away." 



Since Gerarde's day, the Snap-Dragon has sported into 

 many varieties, not only purple, but rosy, crimson, yellow, 

 red and white, white striped, mottled, tipped, etc. It is 

 an imperfect perennial, and is apt to die out every few 

 years, particularly in a moist soil in fact I have been un- 

 able to keep it through the winter in some seasons. The 

 varieties may be propagated from cuttings, or division of 

 the root. It is raised abundantly from the seed, flowering 

 the first autumn ; but not so strong as the second year. 

 Many beautiful varieties are in cultivation. It flourishes 

 best in a dry, loamy soil ; is in flower in June, July, and 

 August. Linaria vulgaris, which grows profusely by 

 our road sides is a closely related plant ; the flowers, 

 yellow and orange. This was formerly cultivated in the 

 garden, but it has a propensity for running about the 

 ground where it is not wanted, and soon becomes a troub- 

 lesome weed. 



APIOS. GROUND-NUT. 



[From the Greek word for pear, in allusion to the shape of the tubers.] 



Apios ttlberdsa. Ground-nut, Dacotah Potato. Indi- 

 genous and common in rich moist woods and thickets, 

 produces flowers in axillary, crowded racemes, of a black- 

 ish-purple color, which would make a pleasing acquisition 

 to the various ornaments of the border or shrubbery. Its 

 roots are strings of oblong cylindrical tubers, frequently 

 known by the name of pig or Indian potatoes ; when 

 roasted or boiled, they are eatable, and said to have made 

 an ordinary part of the vegetable food of the aborigines. 

 6* 



