BLUE AND PURPLE 



be found along the roadsides. The botanical name, Brunclla, 

 is a corruption from Prunella, which is taken from the German 

 for quinsy, for which this plant was considered a certain cure. 

 It was also used in England as an application to the wounds re- 

 ceived by rustic laborers, as its common names, carpenter's herb, 

 hook-heal, and sicklewort, imply. That the French had a simi- 

 lar practice is proved by an old proverb of theirs to the effect 

 that ' ' No one wants a surgeon who keeps Prunelle. ' ' 



BEARD-TONGUE. 



Pentstemon pubescens, Figwort Family. 



Stem. One to two feet high ; clammy above. Leaves. Opposite; ob 

 long to lance-shaped. Flowers. Dull purple or partly whitish; showy; in 

 a slender open cluster. Calyx. Five-parted. Corolla. Tubular; slightly 

 dilated ; the throat nearly closed by a bearded palate ; two-lipped ; the upper 

 lip two-lobed, the lower three-cleft. Stamens. Four ; one densely bearded 

 sterile filament besides. Pistil. One. 



These pretty flowers, giving in the distance a somewhat hya- 

 cinth-like effect, are found in summer in dry or rocky places. 

 They are especially plentiful somewhat southward. 



The white beard-tongue of more western localities is P. Digi- 

 talis. This is a very effective plant, which sometimes reaches a 

 height of five feet, having large inflated white flowers 



ARETHUSA. 



Aretkusa bulbosa. Orchis Family. 



Scape. Sheathed ; from a globular bulb ; usually one-flowered. Leaf. 

 ' ' Solitary ; linear ; nerved ; hidden in the sheaths of the scape ; protruding 

 after flowering." (Gray.) Flower. Rose-purple ; large ; with a bearded 

 lip. 



In some localities this beautiful flower is very plentiful. 

 Every June will find certain New England marshes tinged with 

 its rose-purple blossoms, while in other near and promising bogs 

 it may be sought vainly for years. At least it may be hoped for 



290 



