PENSTEMON 



Corolla. — Funnel-shaped, much expanded above, five- 

 lobed; tube filled with many short, soft, woolly hairs. 



Stamens. — Four, in pairs, included, pubescent; fila- 

 ments slender; anthers all alike. 



Pistil. — Ovary two-celled, style threadlike. 



Fruit. — Many-seeded capsule. 



Downy False Foxglove is a very beautiful yellow 

 flower, not common on roadside ways, preferring 

 dry woods and thickets in hilly country. 



It is interesting to note that the plant is credited 

 with parasitic tendencies; indeed, Professor Grey 

 reports that it has been caught in the act of preying 

 upon the roots of the White Oak and of the Witch- 

 Hazel by means of rootlets ending in tiny disks, which 

 fasten to the roots of these plants and absorb their 

 juices. It is not probable that these are the only 

 victims. There is nothing in the general appearance 

 of the plant to indicate any abnormal tendencies; 

 stem and leaves are green, look fat, sleek, and well 

 fed, the flower seems open-eyed and honest, yet the 

 plant's reputation is not above reproach. 



PENSTEMON. BEARD-TONGUE. FOXGLOVE 

 BEARD-TONGUE 



Penstemon digitalis 



Penstemon, referring to the five stamens. 



A native, perennial plant of the meadows, growing in 

 tufts and bearing many clusters of white flowers. Maine 

 to Illinois. May- July. 



Stem. — Simple, tall, slender, sparsely leaved. 

 Leaves.— Lower and basal leaves oblong or oval, entire 

 or repand, on long, narrow, margined petioles. Upper 



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