BLUE AND PURPLE 



into fewer and narrower leaflets than those of the blue vetch. 

 This species also takes possession of cultivated fields as well as of 

 waste places along the roadside. 



CHICORY. SUCCORY. 



Cichorium Intybus. Composite Family (p. 13). 



Stems. Branching; Leaves. The lower oblong or lance-shaped, partly 

 clasping, sometimes sharply incised, the floral ones minute. Flower-heads. 

 Blue, set close to the stem, composed entirely of strap-shaped flowers ; 

 opening at different times. 



Oh, not in Ladies' gardens, 



My peasant posy ! 



Smile thy dear blue eyes, 



Nor only nearer to the skies 



In upland pastures, dim and sweet, 



But by the dusty road 



Where tired feet 



Toil to and fro ; 



Where flaunting Sin 



May see thy heavenly hue, 



Or weary Sorrow look from thee 



Toward a more tender blue ! * 



This roadside weed blossoms in late summer. It is exten- 

 sively cultivated in France, where the leaves are blanched and 

 used in a salad which is called "Bar be des Capucins." The 

 roots are roasted and mixed with coffee both there and in Eng- 

 land. 



Horace mentions its leaves as part of his frugal fare, and Pliny 

 remarks upon the importance of the plant to the Egyptians, who 

 formerly used it in great quantities, and of whose diet it is still a 

 staple article. 



BLUE AND PURPLE ASTERS. 



Aster. Composite Family (p. 13). 



Flower-heads. Composed of blue or purple ray-flowers, with a centre of 

 yellow disk-flowers. 



As about one hundred and twenty different species of aster 

 are native to the United States, and as fifty-four of these are 

 found in Northeastern America, all but a dozen being purple or 



* Margaret Deland. 

 266 



