WILD FLOWERS blue and purple 



from cultivated fields, which it has overrun since its 

 introduction from Europe. The flower lover however, 

 will always welcome it along our highways and byways, 

 inasmuch as our flora is not over-toned with true blues. 

 The stout, bristly-haired biennial stalk is much 

 branched, and its light green surface is dotted with red 

 or purple. The alternating rough and hairy, oblong 

 or lance-shaped leaves are toothless and clasp the stalk, 

 and the lower ones are narrowed into short stems. 

 The numerous, brilliant blue, tubular, funnel-formed 

 flowers are unequally five-lobed. The latter are 

 rounded and spreading. They are at first bright blue, 

 varying to reddish purple. The five slender stamens 

 and the pistil are rosy tinted, and project beyond the 

 corolla, adding much to the general fuzziness of the 

 plant. The flower buds are pink before they finally 

 expand, and the numerous buds are closely arranged 

 in a double one-sided row along the ends of the branches 

 which are tightly curled. A few flowers on each cluster 

 open at a time, as the stem gradually straightens. 

 These floral clusters are closely grouped on the stalk, 

 and at a distance from the large, thick, clumsy spike. 

 The entire plant is so bristly that it is not likely to be- 

 come a popular bouquet flower. It is found from Can- 

 ada to Virginia and Nebraska, from July to September. 



BLUE VERVAIN. WILD HYSSOP 



Verbena hasiata. Vervain Family. 



During July and August we find the Blue Vervain 

 with every one of its slender, upright branches terminat- 



349 



