A GUIDE TO THE 

 WILD FLOWERS 



IT is well to distinguish three different sorts of herbs: i. 

 Those whose roots persist from year to year, conse- 

 quently perennials, such as asters and goldenrods, and 

 hundreds of others ; 2. Those whose roots live only two 

 years, consequently biennials, like the fringed gentian, and of 

 which there are only a few; and 3. Those which die wholly 

 at the end of one season, consequently annuals, relying en- 

 tirely upon their seeds for perpetuation, as do many of our 

 corrimon weeds. 



Herbs are not really ever woody, although some have 

 stiff stems which suggest it, such as the marshmallow, and 

 some loosestrifes. Actually none of them produce buds that 

 winter over above ground, as all shrubs and trees do, but die 

 down to the ground, below which their growing parts are 

 safely tucked away from the cold (perennials and biennials), 

 or leave to the hazard of seeds, their chance of survival, as 

 must all annuals. 



Quite different characteristics must be adopted to dis- 

 tinguish herbs, than are found useful for other plants. 



While nearly all herbs grow on land or in swamps, bogs, 

 meadows, or marshes, or in the water, some are true aquatic 

 plants, that float or live submerged beneath the surface. 

 Like the water lily, some are beautifully fragrant or colored ; 

 others, like the legendary I'allisneria with its stark little tale 

 of tragedy, are always submerged. It will be convenient to 

 separate these water plants from all others, so that our 

 primary division of the herbs will be thus : 



