PINK 



The vivid coloring and conspicuous marking of these flowers 

 indicate that they aim to attract certain members of the insect 

 world. As in the fireweed the pistil of the freshly opened blos- 

 som is curved sideways, with its lobes so closed and twisted as 

 to be inaccessible on their stigmatic surfaces to the pollen which 

 the already mature stamens are discharging. When the effete 

 anthers give evidence' that they are hors de combat by their with- 

 ered appearance, the style erects itself and spreads its stigmas. 



S. angularis is a species which may be found in rich soil in- 

 land. Its somewhat heart-shaped, clasping, five-nerved leaves 

 and angled stem serve to identify it. 



S. chloroides is a larger and peculiarly beautiful species which 

 borders brackish ponds along the coast. Its corolla is about two 

 inches broad and eight to twelve-parted. 



MARSH ST. JOHN'S-WORT. 



E lodes campanulata. St. John's- wort Family. 



Stem. One or two feet high, often pinkish, later bright red. Leaves. 

 Opposite, set close to the stem or clasping by a broad base. Flowers. 

 Pinkish or flesh-color, small, closely clustered at the summit of the stem and 

 in the axils of the leaves. Calyx. Of five sepals, often pinkish. Corolla. 

 Of five petals. Stamens. Nine, in three sets, the sets separated by 

 orange-colored glands. Pistil. One, with three styles. 



If one has been so unlucky, from the usual point of view, or 

 so fortunate, looking at the matter with the eyes of the flower- 

 lover, as to find himself in a rich marsh early in August, his eye 

 is likely to fall upon the small, pretty pinkish flowers and pale 

 clasping leaves of the marsh St. John's-wort. A closer inspec- 

 tion will discover that the foliage is dotted with the pellucid 

 glands, and that the stamens are clustered in groups after the 

 family fashion. Should the same marsh be visited a few weeks 

 later dashes of vivid color will guide one to the spot where the 

 little pink flowers were found. In their place glow the conspic- 

 uous ovaries and bright leaves which make the plant very notice- 

 able in late August. 



Elodes is a corruption from a Greek word which signifies 

 growing in marshes. 



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