WHITE 



CLIMBING HEMP-WEED. 



Mikania scandens. Composite Family (p. 13). 



Stem. Twining and climbing, nearly smooth. Leaves. Opposite, 

 somewhat triangular-heart-shaped, pointed, toothed at the base. Flo%ver- 

 heads. Dull white or flesh -color, composed of four tubular flowers ; clus- 

 tered, resembling boneset. 



In late summer one often finds the thickets which line the 

 slow streams nearly covered with the dull white flowers of the 

 climbing hemp-weed. At first sight the likeness to the boneset 

 is so marked that the two plants are often confused, but a second 

 glance discovers the climbing stems and triangular leaves which 

 clearly distinguish this genus. 



LADIES' TRESSES. 



Spirant hes cermia. Orchis Family (p. 17). 



Stem. Leafy below, leafy-bracted above, six to twenty inches high. 

 Leaves. Linear-lance-shaped, the lowest elongated. Flowers. White, 

 fragrant, the lips wavy or crisped ; growing in slender spikes. 



This pretty little orchid is found in great abundance in Sep- 

 tember and October. The botany relegates it to " wet places," 

 but I have seen dry upland pastures as well as low-lying swamps 

 profusely flecked with its slender, fragrant spikes. The braided 

 appearance of these spikes would easily account for the popular 

 name of ladies' tresses ; but we learn that the plant's English 

 name was formerly " ladies' traces " from a fancied resemblance 

 between its twisted clusters and the lacings which played so im- 

 portant a part in the feminine toilet. I am told that in parts of 

 New England the country people have christened the plant ' ' wild 

 hyacinth." 



The flowers of S. gracilis are very small, and grow in a much 

 more slender, one-sided spike than those of S. cernua. They 

 are found in the dry woods and along the sandy hill sides from 

 July onward. 



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