IOO 



FLOWERS OF THE CORNFIELDS 



Earth-smoke may be recognized by its finely-divided bluish-green 

 foliage, simulating umbellifers, or Hymenophyllous ferns, its versi- 

 colorous, purple and white flowers, nearly round fruits, with two 

 sepals, lance-shaped, toothed, narrower and smaller than the corolla, 

 and the lower petal of the four spatulate or spoon-shaped, the upper 

 spurred or pouched. The pods are curved downward, erect, and 

 shortly stalked. The leaves or petioles, which are sensitive, act as 

 tendrils to support the plant. The raceme or group of flowers is long, 



RED RAMPANT FUMITORY (Fumaria officinal is, L.) 



and many-flowered. Two ovules are contained in the ovary, but only 

 one matures. 



The stem may be 18-24 in. long. Flowers are seen from May to 

 September. Fumitory is a common annual. 



The flowers are inconspicuous, and little visited, therefore, by 

 insects. The flower is much the same as in Corydalis cava, but is 

 smaller, and instead of a spur there is a short round pouch formed by 

 the upper petal and the two at the side which form a tube, hinged at the 

 base, and honey is secreted by a short process from the upper stamen. 

 Flowers are fertile to their own pollen, and the chief visitor is the 

 hive bee. The honey being easily accessible can be obtained by many 

 insects, but it flowers in the middle of the summer, and the small 

 flowers and little honey, therefore, cause it to rely on self-pollination 

 almost entirely. 



Fumitory is dispersed by the agency of the plant itself. The 



