YELLOW 



COW WHEAT. 



Melampyrum Americanum. Figwort Family. 



Stem. 'Low ; erect ; branching. Leaves. Opposite ; lance-shaped. 

 Flowers. Small ; greenish-yellow ; solitary in the axils of the upper leaves. 

 Calyx. Bell-shaped; four-cleft. Corolla. Two-lipped; upper lip arched ; 

 lower three-lobed and spreading at the apex. Stamens. Four. Pistil. 

 One. 



In the open woods, from June until September, we encounter 

 the pale-yellow flowers of this rather insignificant little plant. 

 The cow wheat was formerly cultivated by the Dutch as food for 

 cattle. The Spanish name, Trigo de Vaca, would seem to indi- 

 cate a similar custom in Spain. The generic name, Melampyrum, 

 is from the Greek, and signifies black wheat, in reference to the 

 appearance of the seeds of some species when mixed with grain. 

 The flower would not be likely to attract one's attention were 

 it not exceedingly common in some parts of the country, 

 flourishing especially in our more eastern woodlands. 



SPEARWORT. 



Ranunculus ambigens. Crowfoot Family. 



Stems. One to two feet high. Leaves. Oblong or lance-shaped; 

 mostly toothed ; contracted into a half-clasping leaf-stalk. Flower. Bright 

 yellow; solitary or clustered. Calyx. Of five sepals. Corolla. Of five to 

 seven oblong petals. Stamens. Indefinite in number, occasionally few. 

 Pistils. Numerous in a head. 



Many weeks after the marsh marigolds have passed away, just 

 such marshy places as they affected are brightly flecked with 

 gold. Wondering, perhaps, if they can be flowering for the 

 second time in the season, we wade recklessly into the bog to 

 rescue, not the marsh marigold, but its near relation, the spear- 

 wort, which is still more closely related to the buttercup, as a 

 little comparison of the two flowers will show. This plant is 

 especially common at the North. 



