HARPER'S GUIDE TO WILD FLOWERS 



terminating the numerous branches. The calyx turns downward 

 after flowering and hugs the stem. July and August. 



Moist, open, but shaded woods, Canada and Minnesota 

 south to Florida and Kansas. 



Cardinal-flower 



Lobelia, cardinalis. — Family, Lobelia. Color, deep, velvety red. 

 One of our few flowers really scarlet. Flowers, in a raceme. The 

 calyx is divided into 5 long, narrow points united below. The 

 corolla, a long and narrow tube, breaks above and spreads into 

 5 divisions. Three of these are more united and stand apart from 

 the other two, which, one on each side, are quite narrow. Through 

 a split down the entire length of the corolla the stamens stand, tall 

 and stiff, their red filaments and blue-gray anthers united into a 

 tube. The anthers are slightly fringed with white. Overtopping 

 all, peeping through the stamens' tube, and hanging down, is the 

 red double stigma, tipping a long style. There is a touch of brown 

 on the base of the middle petal-lobes, otherwise the color of the 

 flower is an intense, vivid scarlet. Scarcely is such a rich color 

 to be found in any other flower Leaves, alternate, 2 or 3 inches 

 long, ovate to lance-shape, toothed; among the flowers, bract-like. 

 August and September. 



This queenly flower is fortunately quite common. It loves 

 the shady banks of rivers, crouching under bridges. Or it 

 comes out boldly and rears its splendid spikes on broad and 

 sunny banks, where the cows come to drink, among bur- 

 reeds, sagittarias, tall rushes, and brookweeds. It cannot 

 hide, if it would, any more than the scarlet tanager can con- 

 ceal itself in the trees: It is a flower clothed with stateliness 

 as well as beauty, and if quickly placed in water will keep 

 fresh for many days. New England southward. 



It is pleasant to think that this is one of our own plants, 

 it being strictly indigenous to America. (See illustration, 



P. 2 93-) 



Twin-flower 



Linnaea borealis (named from the great botanist Linnaeus). — 

 Family, Honeysuckle. Color, rose, or corolla whitish, with 

 rose purple stripes, hairy inside. Leaves, opposite, roundish, 

 sparingly crenate, on short petioles, evergreen, shiny above. 

 Calyx, 5-toothed. Corolla, bell-shaped, 5-lobed. Stamens, 4, two 

 longer than the other two. Fruit, a dry, 3-celled pod, with only 1 

 perfect seed. Flowers, hairy within, delicately fragrant, in pairs, 

 each hanging from its own tiny stalk, the 2 pedicels united below 



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