314 PLANTS GROWING IN WASTE SOIL. 



This ** splendid tufted vetch," is found along the borders of 

 roadsides and in the thickets. It stretches out its tendrils as 

 though it loved to climb and gleefully throws out its bright 

 flowers to mingle with the grasses and brambles. 



V. Americana has larger purple flowers, and but five to seven 

 pairs of ovate leaflets. 



HOG-PEANUT. (.Flate CLX) 

 Falcdta combsa. 



Flotuers : growing in axillary racemes. Calyx : tubular ; four or five-toothed. 

 Corolla : papilionaceous, the standard partly wrapped about the other petals. 

 Stamens: ten; united. Pistil : o\\&. Pods: one inch long ; linear. Leaves: 

 divided into three, ovate, pointed leaflets ; netted-veined ; thin ; smooth. 

 Stem : wiry ; three-sided, covered with brown hairs. 



This little plant is another that has its household divided 

 against itself. The upper pretty flowers enjoy life, lend them- 

 selves to the breeze and are altogether useless ; while the 

 workers are down below and have no time to deck themselves 

 in gay, pretty corollas. It is a graceful climber and has a 

 fineness and delicacy of character often strongly in contrast to 

 its associates, as it usually twines about coarse, rough plants. 



Whoever maimed the unoffending little thing with the name 

 of hog-peanut must still be smarting under the weight of his 

 iniquities ; although the circumstance that led to his doing so 

 is traced in the underground, pale, one-sided, swollen and hairy 

 pods, the product of the hidden blossoms. They are not 

 unlike peanuts in appearance, and hogs uproot them to feast 

 upon. Cattle eat also the herbage of the plant. 



SIMPLER'S JOY. BLUE VERVAIN. 



Verbena hastaia. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Vervain. Purplish blue. Scentless. General. July, August. 



Flowers : growing in numerous, corymbed, terminal spikes. Calyx : tubular ; 

 five-toothed. Corolla : tubular ; salver-shaped ; with five lobes. Stamens ; 



