50 WILD FLOWERS AND FRUITS 



27. Same as 24 but flowers neither violet- nor bell-shaped, nor 



with 4 petals. 



Leather-wood (Dirca palustris). Mezereum family. 

 Max. ht. 6 ft.; shrub; flowers few, small, clustered 

 in axils, appearing before leaves, small, funnel- 

 form, 8 protruding stamens; leaves oval, not toothed. 

 Wet woods. Spring. 



Purslane {Portulaca oleracea). Purslane family. 



Prostrate, much branched; flowers opening few 

 hours in day ; petals 5 ; leaves very thick, rounded at 

 end. Wet places. Summer. 



Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris). Crowfoot family. 

 Av. ht. i^ ft.; stem hollow; sepals (5 or more) 

 broad, inversely egg-shaped, petal-like; petals 

 wanting; leaves broad, heart-shaped or kidney- 

 shaped, edges wavy or with rounded teeth, or 

 practically without teeth. Wet places. Spring. 



Yellow Lady's Slipper {Cypripedium puhescens). 

 Orchis family. 

 Ht. 2 ft.; inflated lip i^ in. long; flattened, two 

 long, brown, spirally twisted petals at side; leaves 

 broad, pointed. Damp places. Early summer. 

 (See Colored Plate II). 



Buttercup {Ranunculus acris). Crowfoot family. 



Ht. 2 ft. or over; generally hairy; flowers of 5 

 petals, each on end of long stalk; leaves deeply 

 parted, the lobes deeply cut. Fields everywhere. 

 Spring to autumn. 



Small-flowered Crowfoot {Ranunculus abortivus). 

 Crowfoot family. 

 Ht. ^-2 ft.; flowers small, petals 5, hght yellow; 

 lower leaves somewhat kidney-shaped, upper deeply 

 cut. Moist ground. Summer. 



Heath-like Hudsonia {Htidsonia ericoides). Rock- 

 rose family. 

 Low shrub widely branching; flowers small; petals 

 5; leaves minute. Coast. Spring, early summer. 



