BLUE AND PURPLE 



scription which were used in religious rites. It certainly seems, 

 however, to have been applied to some especial plant in the time 

 of Pliny, for he writes that no plant was more honored among 

 the Romans than the sacred Verbena. In more modern times 

 as well the vervain has been regarded as an " herb of grace," and 

 has been gathered with various ceremonies and with the invoca- 

 tion of a blessing, which began as follows: 



Hallowed be thou, Vervain, 

 As thou growest on the ground, 

 For in the Mount of Calvary 

 There thou was first found. 



It was then supposed to be endued with especial virtue, and was 

 worn on the person to avert disaster. 



The time-honored title of Simpler's joy arose from the remun- 

 eration which this popular plant brought to the " Simplers " as 

 the gatherers of medicinal herbs were entitled. 



BEARD-TONGUE. 



Fentstemon ptibescens. Figwort Family. 



Stem. One or 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 handsome, showy flowers 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. dig- 

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

 a height of five feet, having large inflated white flowers. 



SELF-HEAL. HEAL-ALL. 



Brunella vulgaris. Mint. Family (p. 16). 



Stems. Low. Leaves. Opposite, oblong. Flowers. Bluish-purple, 

 in a spike or head. Calyx. Two-lipped, upper lip with three short teeth, 

 the lower two-cleft Corolla. Two-lipped, the upper lip arched, entire, the 

 lower spreading, three-cleft. Stamens. Four. Pistil. One, two-lobed at 

 the apex. 



Throughout the length and breadth of the country, from 

 June until September, the short, close spikes of the self-heal can 



254 



