BLUE AND PURPL 



its most noticeable characteristic is the gelatinous matter which 

 coats its long stems, its leaf and flower stalks, and the lower sur- 

 face of its floating leaves. 



CORN COCKLE. 



Lychnis Githago. Pink Family. 



About two feet high. Leaves. Opposite ; long and narrow ; pale 

 green ; with silky hairs. Flowers. Rose-purple ; large ; long-stalked. 

 Calyx-lobes. Five; long and slender, exceeding the petals. Corolla. Of 

 five broad petals. Stamens. Ten. Pistil. One, with five styles, 



In many countries some of the most beautiful and noticeable 

 flowers are commonly found in grain-fields. England's scarlet 

 poppies flood her farm-lands with glorious color in early summer ; 

 while the bluets lighten the corn-fields of France. Our grain- 

 fields seem to have no native flower peculiar to them ; but often 

 we find a trespasser of foreign descent hiding among the wheat 

 or straying to the roadsides in early summer, whose deep-tinted 

 blossoms secure an instant welcome from the flower-lover if not 

 from the farmer. " What hurte it doeth among the corne ! the 

 spoyle unto bread, as well in colour, taste, and unwholesomeness, 

 is better known than desired," wrote Gerarde. The large dark 

 seeds fill the ground wheat with black specks, and might be in- 

 jurious if existing in any great quantity. Its former generic 

 name was Agrostemma, signifying crown of the fields. Its pres- 

 ent one of Lychnis, "Signifies a light or lamp. 



BEACH PEA. 



Lathyrus maritimus. Pulse Family. 



About one foot high, or more. Stem. Stout. Leaves. Divided into 

 from three to five pairs of thick oblong leaflets. Flowers. Papilionaceous; 

 large ; purple ; clustered. 



The deep-hued flowers of this stout plant are commonly found 

 along the sand-hills of the seashore, and also on the shores of 

 the Great Lakes, blooming in early summer. Both flowers and 

 leaves are at once recognized as belonging to the Pulse family. 



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