PINK AND RED CROUP 



Corolla of 5 petals, measuring 6 inches across, bell-shaped, wither- 

 ing at the close of one day. Stamens and pistils in a column like 

 the preceding. In this genus the column is long, with anthers 

 covering most of its length. Styles have club-shaped stigmas. 

 Pod, 5-celled, many-seeded. Leaves, alternate, broad, petioled, 

 much pointed and toothed, the lower 3-divided, smooth above, 

 softly downy beneath, palmately veined. August and September. 



Taller than the preceding, 4 to 7 feet high, with flowers 

 far more showy and richer in color. In August the Newark 

 meadows, down the New Jersey coast, and the dunes along 

 the bay fronts of Long Island are glorious with the bloom of 

 this splendid flower. It bears transplanting, and will grow 

 quite well in soil drier than its native marshes. The bushes 

 form dense, hedge-like borders or grow in clumps back from 

 the water's edge. A white blossom with dark-red center is 

 sometimes found. Near the coast from Massachusetts south- 

 ward. (See illustration, p. 266.) 



H. syrtacas is the althaea of our gardens. It is a tall, tree-like 

 shrub, with pointed and cut leaves. The flower is large, rose- 

 color or white, with brown spots. 



Kosteletzkya <virginica. — Family, Mallow. Color, pink. Flow- 

 ers, 2 inches across. The plant is from 2 to 4 feet high, rough 

 hairy. Leaves, mostly heart-shaped, the lower 3-lobed. August. 



In marshes along the coast, New York and southward. 



Marsh St. John's-wort 



Hypericum <virgmicum. — Family, St. John's-wort. Color, pink. 

 Sepals and petals, 5. Styles, 3. Stamens, 9, every 3 stamens 

 separated by yellow glands. Leaves, opposite, dotted, broad, 

 blunt, not tapering at either end, almost clasping the stem, pale 

 green, entire. Stems, simple, profusely branching, about 1 foot 

 high, stolon-bearing. July and August. 



The pretty pink flowers, less than half an inch broad, 

 grow often singly or in pairs, or sometimes in clusters in the 

 leaf-axils or terminating the branches. They quickly fade, 

 and deep red pods take their place. Late in the season the 

 stems and leaves turn a dark crimson. Common in the 

 Eastern States. (See illustration, p. 268.) 



Pinweed 



Lechea maritima. — Family, Rockrose. Color, reddish. Sepals, 

 5, 2 shorter than the others. Petals, 3. Stamens, man v. Pistil, 



267 



