BLUE AND PURPLE 



projects beyond the anthers, it opens, and is ready to receive its 

 pollen from the next insect -visitor. 



The genus is named after an early Flemish herbalist, de 



row. 



INDIAN TOBACCO. 



Lobelia inflata. Lobelia Family. 



One to two feet high. Stem. Branching from the root. Leaves. Al- 

 ternate, ovate, or oblong, somewhat toothed. Flowers. Blue or purple, 

 small, growing in a loose raceme, resembling in structure those of the great 

 lobelia. Pod. Much inflated. 



During the summer we note in the dry, open fields the blue 

 racemes of the Indian tobacco, and in the later year the inflated 

 pods which give it its specific name. The plant is said to be 

 poisonous if taken internally, and yields a " quack-medicine " of 

 some notoriety. The Indians smoked its dried leaves, which im- 

 part to the tongue a peculiar tobacco-like sensation. 



There are other species of lobelia which may be distinguished 

 by their narrower leaves and uninflated pods, and by their choice 

 of moist localities. 



HOG PEA-NUT. 



Amphicarpaa monoica. Pulse Family (p. 16). 



Stem. Climbing and twining over plants and shrubs. Leaves. Divided 

 into three somewhat four-sided leaflets. Flowers. Papilionaceous, pale li- 

 lac, or purplish, in nodding racemes. Pod. One inch long. 



Along the shadowy lanes which wind through the woods the 

 climbing members of the Pulse family are very abundant. Dur- 

 ing the late summer and autumn the lonely wayside is skirted by 



Vines, with clust'ring bunches growing ; 

 Plants, with goodly burden bowing. 



And in and out among this luxuriant growth twist the slender 

 stems of the ill-named hog pea-nut, its delicate lilac blossoms 

 nodding from the coarse stalks of the golden -rods and iron -weeds 

 or blending with the purple asters. 



This plant bears flowers of two kinds : the upper ones are 

 perfect, but apparently useless, as they seldom ripen fruit ; while 

 the lower or subterranean ones are without petals or attractiveness 

 of appearance, but yield eventually at least one large ripe seed. 



262 



