Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 339 



JOE PYE WEED (Eupatorium purpureum) is a 



very familiar and pretty species, found commonly 

 everywhere along the edges of swamps, thickets or 

 about ponds. The simple, rather slender, stem is 

 very tall, attaining heights of from 2 to 10 feet. 

 The stem is usually stained purplish and is set at 

 intervals with whorls of three to six, rough, coarsely- 

 toothed leaves; these latter have short stems, rather 

 broad bases and are sharp-pointed. The flowers grow 

 in flat-topped terminal clusters. Each floret is of a 

 rosy purple color and has projecting styles that give 

 the flowers a very fuzzy appearance. The color, 

 which is very nearly like that of the common Milk- 

 weed, causes many to confuse this plant with that 

 species, although they are very dissimilar in every 

 other respect. 



Each little tubular floret yields a drop of. nectar 

 and is, consequently, highly appreciated by many 

 species of butterflies as well as by bumblebees. Its 

 common name is that of a quack Indian doctor who 

 made frequent use of this plant for the "cures" of 

 various ailments. 



Joe Pye Weed is commonly found in moist places 

 from Newfoundland to Minn, and southwards, flow- 

 ering during August and September. 



THOROUGHWORT; BONESET (Eupatorium per- 

 foliatum) is a flowering herb, dearly beloved by the 

 old-fashioned housewife and equally detested by the 

 small boy. It was, and still is, one of the most 

 commonly used home remedies and doubtless is quite 

 often efficacious in producing, or conducing to, cures 

 of colds, chills, slight fevers etc. The stem is stout, 

 hairy and 1 to 5 feet tall. The opposite leaves are 

 perfoliate, that is the ends are joined together. It 

 is very common in swamps or thickets everywhere. 



