446 THE BORAGE FAMILY. 



One might better have remained asleep than to be so unfortunate as to 

 let the spring-time pass without finding somewhere the Virginia cowslip, if 

 located within its range, — as beautiful a plant as one might wish to see. 

 Sometimes it is called blue-bells, although usually the flowers show strongly 

 a purplish tint. Many of those in the clusters raise themselves upright, 

 while others droop their heads. In searching for it one should follow the 

 streams, or cross and recross the moist meadows. 



SPRING SC0RPI0N=GRA5S. FORGET=ME=NOT. 



Myosbtis Virginica. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Borage. White. Scentless, Texas and Florida April-June. 



to Maine, 



Flowers : ^xoyi\x^^ in one-sided racemes usually bracted at the base, their pedi- 

 cels mostly erect. Calyx: unequally five-cleft, hispid. Corolla: salver-form; 

 five-lobed, crested in the throat. Stajfiens: five, included. Leaves: alternate; 

 linear oblong, or obovate; sessile or the lower ones narrowed into short petioles ; 

 entire. Stem : erect ; three to fifteen inches high, branched and covered with a 

 hispid pubescence. 



Earlier in the season than any other of its relatives, this pubescent little 

 thing unfolds its bloom on dry hillsides. Bright apd early one must be to 

 catch a glimpse of those flowers that blow from the lower part of its stems, 

 for usually when it is found only a few small ones are seen tipping the ends 

 of its scorpion-like, slender raceme. 



M. Icixa, smaller forget-me-not, recalls the little plant familiarly known ; 

 the gentle inspiration to sentiment. Usually it hovers about wet, muddy 

 places, and not the least of its attractions is the crimson-pinky colour of its 

 tiny buds. The racemes bear loosely their dainty, little blue flowers with 

 lively-looking, yellow eyes. 



M. paliistris, forget-me-not, or snake grass, is only seen through our 

 range as an escape, it being a native of Europe and Asia. 



THE VERVAIN FAMILY. 



Verbe7idcece. 



Shrubs or herbs with opposite, verticillate, rarely alternate leaves, and 

 which bear perfect, ?-egular or so??iewhat irregular flowers produced in 

 terminal, or axillary forms of infloresce?ices. 



To this family belong also some tropical trees, and the chaste-tree, Vitex 



