PLANTS GROWING IN RICH OR ROCKY SOIL. 177 



SMOOTH RUELLIA. (Plate XC '//.) 

 Ruellia strepens. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Rue. Blue. Scentless. Penn. southward May-July. 



and westward. 



Flvivers : solitary, or a few together growing in the axils of the leaves. Ca- 

 lyx : five-parted with narrow segments. Corolla: salver-shaped, five-lobed. 

 Stamens: four. Pistil: one, with a recurved style. Leaves: opposite; long; 

 oblong ; petioled. Stem : erect ; four-sided ; often branched ; glabrous. 



This large, bold flower is one of the very effective ones 

 found in the thickets. It appears to be quite conscious of its 

 beauty, and we feel that it intends to hold fast to its position as 

 guardian of the leaves no matter what should come to pass. 

 Unfortunately, its range is not farther east than Pennsylvania. 



It is represented in colour in Plate CXVIII. 



BLUE COHOSH. 



Ca ulophylluni thalictroides. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Barberry. Yellowish green or purple. Scentless. Mostly north and west. April, May. 



Flowers : small ; growing in a panicle at the summit of the stem. Calyx : 

 of six sepals, having four short bractlets underneath. Corolla : of six kidney- 

 shaped petals that terminate in short claws. Stamens: six. Pistil: one. 

 Fruit : membranous, with a pair of blue, berry-like seeds on thick stalks, which 

 are fleshy when ripe and glaucous. Leaves : one large leaf, thrice compound ; 

 and one or two smaller ones above. Leaflets : twice, or thrice lobed; whitish 

 underneath. Stem : smooth ; erect. Kootstock : thick. 



There are numerous plants that we pass by unheedingly in 

 the spring-time of their bloom, and that, as if in retaliation for 

 the slight, thrust themselves upon our attention in the autumn, 

 by the brilliancy of their colouring and the graceful drooping of 

 their fruit. The blue cohosh is among the number. And when, 

 towards the ead of the summer, the leaves turn yellow, they 

 call loudly with the blue berries for the admiration that was 

 denied to the plant earlier in the season. It is fond of rich 

 living, and seeks its home in dense woods where the leaf mold 

 covers the ground. 



The Indian herb doctors know well the blue cohosh and call 



