96 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



"11. Purpurescens. Dark-flowered. Stem erect ; flowers 

 of a dark crimson purple ; grows in Cambridge and Newton, 

 but is rare. 



" 12. Quadrifolia. Four-leaved. A delicate species, 

 growing in dry woods ; stem about a foot high ; flowers flesh- 

 colored ; is found in Roxbury and Brookline, and blooms in 

 June. 



" 13. Amonea. Oval-leaved. Stalks from a foot and a 

 half to three feet high ; at each point are two large leaves, 

 which are thickish, stiff, smooth, with purple nerves ; umbels 

 rise from the stalk and some of the upper axils ; flowers 

 of a bright red color. 



"14. Syriaca. Milk-weed, or Silk-weed. This species 

 abounds all over our country, and, for the many useful purposes 

 to which it may be applied, is deserving of attention. 



The flowers of the Asclepias are produced in umbels ; all 

 are very attractive to the butterfly family and other beautiful 

 insects, and for this reason a few species should be introduced 

 into the garden. 



BAPTISIA. 



Bapf.isia, from bapto, to dye : in allusion to the econom- 

 ical properties of some species. A blue dye is extracted from 

 the leaves. 



Baptisia australis was formerly Sophora australis, and is 

 commonly called by that name. The genus Sophora has been 

 much altered, and now consists chiefly of fine trees. It con- 

 tains, however, two species of ornamental herbaceous plants. 

 S. flavescens, with yellow flowers, a native of Siberia, and S. 

 alepechroides, with blue flowers, from the Levant ; the former 

 two, the last four, feet high. 



Baptisia australis is considered a handsome border flower 

 of the easiest culture, exceedingly hardy and indigenous to 

 some parts of North America. It produces its blue flowers in 

 terminal spiked racemes in June. Leaves ternate stalked ; 



