Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 159 



MARSH FIVE-FINGER; PURPLE CINQUEFOIL 



(Potentilla palustris) is in character quite like the 

 foregoing species. It is the only one, however, hav- 

 ing purple flowers, and is easily recognized on that 

 account. The flowers are nearly an inch broad, larg- 

 er than those of the other Cinquefoils; they have a 

 large calyx, the divisions of which are longer than the 

 petals; the petals are also pointed, whereas those of 

 the other species are rounded or else wedge-shap- 

 ed. 



The stem grows from 6 to 20 inches long and is 

 rather woody at the base. The leaves alternate 

 along the stem, as is customary with all members 

 of the Rose family; they are divided into five or sev- 

 en, spatulate-shaped, toothed leaflets. Purple Cin- 

 quefoil grows in swamps or cool bogs, from Labrador 

 to Alaska and south to N. J., Pa., la., and Cal., flow- 

 ering during July and August. 



AGRIMONY (Agrimonia gryposepala) is a common 

 weed found on the borders of swamps or thickets. 

 It has a tall, hairy, simple stem from two to four 

 feet high. The bright green leaves are variously 

 compounded, from three small leaflets at the top of 

 the stem to large leaves made up of seven, lance- 

 shaped, toothed leaflets, interspersed with smaller 

 ones on the lower part of the stalk. 



The flowers are in a long, many-flowered spike at 

 the top of the stalk. Each flower is tiny, has five 

 yellow petals and numerous, orange stamens, giv- 

 ing the spike a bright, golden-yellow appearance. 

 They open from the bottom of the spike, towards 

 the top, and each plant is in bloom for a long period 

 Our ancestors used the leaves for various medicinal 

 concoctions, and some even used them for making 

 tea. It is a common plant from N. B. to N. C. and 

 westwards to Cal. 



