A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 117 



small and without petals; others larger ^4-1 in. wide with 

 spreading yellow very fragile, broadly wedge-shaped petals. 

 June. In dry places, especially in sandy fields. Maine and 

 Ontario to No. Carolina, and westward. Fig. 334. There are 

 several other species, all a good deal alike. The pinweeds are 

 fairly close relatives. See Nos. 291-293, 481, and 482. 



335. YELLOW FLAX. CATHARTOLINUM. 



Slender herbs, usually under 18 in. tall, simple and wand- 

 like, or a little branched. Leaves alternate, essentially stalkless 

 and toothless, but sometimes minutely hairy on the margins. 

 Sepals 5, some or all of them minutely toothed. Petals 5, 

 yellow. Fruit a tiny dry pod, (Linaceac.) 



See No. 319 for the common Blue Flax, a close relative. 



Of the eight species of yellow flax the following is typical. 

 All are much alike and difficult to separate without technical 

 distinctions. 



Yellow Flax. Cathartolinum virginianum. {Limim 

 virginianiim.) A slender branched perennial from 8-18 in. 

 tall. Leaves thin, with a single vein (some related species 

 have 3), 3^-1 in. long, pointed both ends. Flowers usually 

 solitary, from the leaf-insertions, on very slender stalks, not 

 over ys in. wide, pale yellow. Pod round, not over ys in. 

 thick. In dry open places, or in woods. Maine and Ontario 

 to Georgia. Some relatives extend far westward. July. Fig. 

 335- 



336. Leaves compound, or deeply divided or cut, except in 

 the water spearwort. No. 351. (Nos. 337-376.) 



Flowers yellow no. 348 



Flowers neither yellow nor white no. 343 



Flowers white (rarely pinkish-white) 



Leaflets only 3 Indian Physic no. 337 



Leaflets more than 3, often many more. 



Sepals petal-like, separate, the leaves thrice compound 

 Plant 1-2 ft. tall ; fruit a berry Baneberry no. 338 



