THE PRIMROSE FAMILY. 411 



In ponds or ditthes where there is shallow, stai^mant water this strange 

 plant raises its inflated peduncles and throws out its queer little flowers. 

 Under the water its floating foliage is suggestive of a seaweed, and so cut 

 is it into fine segments as to make applicable the name of feather. When 

 dried, specimens of the plant have something the look of Japanese prints. 



AilERICAN COWSLIPS. SHOOTING STAR. GIANT 

 CYCLAMEN. 



Dod(-iatJu'0)i Mead id 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Primrose. rur/>u\ /'ht/c Sct-n^icss. Ccors^ia ami Texai April-June, 



or cream. northward. 



Flmucrs : nodding; showy; growing in a terminal ])racted umbel, on slender 

 pedicels that curve with the flower but become erect in fruit. Calyx: five-cleft, 

 the divisions at first reflexed ; persistent. Corolla : with five linear, strongly re- 

 flexed lobes. Sla>iiens : five, the linear erect anthers arranged so as to apparently 

 form a cone. Pistil: one. Leaves: from the base, clustered, oblanceolate, 

 blundy pointed at the apex and tapering at the base into the margined petiole ; 

 entire ; smooth ; thin. 



' . " Meadia's soft chains five suppliant beaux confess, 



And hand in hand, the laughing belle address ; 

 Alike to all she bows with wanton air, 

 Rolls her dark eyes, and waves her yellow hair." 



This old bit of English poetry written about the most quaint of the 

 primroses, is said to have represented as beau.K the flower's fine stamens as 

 they encircle the one pistil, or Meadia. In the drooping poise of the corolla 

 also there is meaning ; for the stamens, considerably shorter than the pistil, 

 are thus enabled to shake their golden pollen directly on the stigma. As its 

 seeds begin to develop, however, the head erects itself that their premature 

 escape may be prevented. It was Linnasus who bestowed the generic name 

 significant of the twelve heathen gods. 



THE PLUMBAGO FAMILY. 



PI It ]ndao-indcca\ 



o 



MARSH ROSEHARY. INK ROOT. SEA LAVENDER. 



L u)i on iu ni Ci i rolin t\ in u »i . 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Pluml'tigo. Lavender. Fragrant. Texas and Florida north- J uly-Octohcr. 



ivard along the coast. 



Flo7vers : tiny, mostly solitary growing in one-sided bracted clusters at the eiid 

 of a high scape branched above as a panicle. Calyx : tubular ; five-toothed. 



