BLUE AND PURPLE 



IRON-WEED. 



Vernonia Noveboracensis. Composite Family (p. 13). 



Stem. Leafy, usually tall. Leaves. Alternate, somewhat lance-oblong. 

 Flozver-heads. An intense red-purple, loosely clustered, composed entirely 

 of tubular flowers. 



. Along the roadsides and low meadows near the coast the 

 iron-weed adds its deep purple hues to the color-pageant of late 

 August. By the uninitiated the plant is often mistaken for an 

 aster, but a moment's inspection will discover that the minute 

 flowers which compose each flower-head are all tubular in shape, 

 and that the ray or strap-shaped blossoms which an aster must 

 have are wanting. These flower-heads are surrounded by an 

 involucre composed of small scales which are tipped with a tiny 

 point and are usually of a purplish color also. 



BLUE CURLS. BASTARD PENNYROYAL. 



Trichostema dichotomum. Mint Family (p. 16). 



Stem. Rather low, branching, clammy. Leaves. Opposite, narrowly 

 oblong or lance-shaped, glutinous, with a balsamic odor. Flowers. Purple, 

 occasionally pinkish, not usually clustered. Calyx. Five-cleft, two-lipped. 

 Corolla. Five-lobed, the three lower lobes more or less united. Stamens. 

 Four, very long and curved, protruding. Pistil. One, with a two-lobed style. 



In the sandy fields of late summer this little plant attracts 

 notice by its many purple flowers. Its corolla soon falls and 

 exposes to view the four little nutlets of the ovary lying within 

 the enlarged calyx like tiny eggs in their nest. Its aromatic 

 odor is very perceptible, and the little glands with which it is 

 covered may be seen with the aid of a magnifier. The generic 

 name, Trichostema, signifies hairy stamens and alludes to the 

 curved hair-like filaments. 



SEA LAVENDER. MARSH ROSEMARY. 



Statice Caroliniana. Leadwort Family. 



Stems. Leafless, branching. Leaves. From the root, somewhat ob- 

 long, thick. Flowers. Lavender-color or pale purple, tiny, scattered or 

 loosely spiked along one side of the branches. Calyx. Dry, funnel-form. 

 Corolla. Small, with five petals. Stamens, Five. Pistil. One, with 

 five, rarely three, styles. 



In August many of the salt marshes are blue with the tiny 

 flowers of the sea lavender. The spray-like appearance of the 



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