BLUE AND PURPLE 



color, is especially striking and pansy-like, its two upper petals 

 being of a deeper hue than the others. It is found in the neigh- 

 borhood of Washington in abundance, and on the shaly soil of 

 New Jersey. 



An interesting feature of many of these plants is their cleis- 

 togamous flowers. These are small and inconspicuous blossoms, 

 which never open (thus guarding their pollen against all depreda- 

 tions), but which are self-fertilized, ripening their seeds in the 

 dark. They are usually found near or beneath the ground, and 

 are often taken for immature buds. 



DOG VIOLET. 



Viola canina, var. Mnhlenbergii. Violet Family. 



Three to eight inches high. Stems. Leafy. l,eaves. Heart-shaped, 

 wavy-toothed. Flowers. Pale violet. 



This is the commonest blue species of the leafy stemmed vio- 

 lets. It is found in wet, shady places from May till July. 



BLUETS. QUAKER LADIES. 



Houstonia cterulea. Madder Family. 



Stem. Erect, three to five inches high. Leaves. Very small, opposite. 

 Flowers. Small, delicate blue, lilac, or nearly white, with a yellowish eye. 

 Calyx. Four-lobed. Corolla. Salver - shaped, four - lobed, corolla - tube 

 long and slender. Stamens. Four. Pistil. One, with two stigmas. 



No one who has been in the Berkshire Hills during the month 

 of May can forget the loveliness of the bluets. The roadsides, 

 meadows, and even the lawns, are thickly carpeted with the 

 dainty enamel-like blossoms which are always pretty, but which 

 seem to flourish with especial vigor and in great profusion in 

 this lovely region. Less plentiful, perhaps, but still common is 

 the little plant in grassy places far south and west, blossoming in 

 early spring. 



The flowers are among those which botanists term " dimor- 

 phous." This word signifies occurring in two forms, and refers 

 to the stamens and pistils, which vary in size, some flowers hav- 

 ing a tall pistil and short stamens, others tall stamens and a short 



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