94 



A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 



Z'\Q> 



acters. One of them, Polygonum marithnum, is bluish-green 

 and is a seaside plant from Mass. to Florida. See Nos. 204, 

 205, 246, 247, 260, 261, and 294. 



271. Carpet-weed. Mollugo verticillata. {Aizoaccac.) A 

 smooth, weak, almost fleshy herb often making patches 18 in. 

 across. Leaves 5 or 6 at each joint, broadest towards the tip, 

 narrowed almost into a stalk at the base, }4-i in. long. 

 Flowers whitish, less than ^ in. across on slender stalks, 

 almost as long as the leaves, or occasionally longer. Petals 

 none. Common as a weed in waste places and cultivated 

 ground from Canada to Mexico. May-Sept. Fig. 271. 



272. Stems or flower-stalks erect. (Nos. 273-303.) 



Stem leaves obvious no. 277 



Leaves wholly basal Plantains no. 273 



273. PLANTAINS. PLANTAGO. 



Stemless herbs with an erect flower cluster rising from a 

 rosette of basal leaves. Leaves apparently parallel-veined, 

 rather prominently ribbed in some species. Flowers incon- 



