WILD FLOWERS OF NEW YORK 183 



Long-spurred Violet 



J'iola rostrata Pursh 



Plate 142a 



Stems usually numerous from an elongated, jointed rootstock. 4 to 8 

 inches high. Leaves orbicular to broadly ovate, heart-shaped, nearly or 

 quite smooth, serrate on the margins, the upper ones pointed, the lower 

 and basal leaves blunt. Petaliferous flowers on long, slender stalks, violet 

 with a dark purple- violet center, not bearded, the spur slender and one- 

 half of an inch long or longer. 



Shady hillsides and moist woods in leaf mold, Quebec to Michigan, 

 south to Georgia. Flowering in May and June. 



The Field Pansy (Viola r a f i n e s q u i i Greene) is an annual 

 plant with slender, smooth, erect stems, 3 to 8 inches high, sometimes 

 branched. Leaves small, somewhat roimded on slender petioles; their 

 stipules large, conspicuous and deeply cut or fringed. Flowers small, 

 bkiish white to cream-colored. In fields and open woods, southern New 

 York to Michigan and southward to Georgia and Texas. Flowering in 

 April and May. 



Loosestrife Family 



Salicariaceae 



(Lythraceae) 



The Swamp Loosestrife and the Spiked or Purple Loosestrife belong 

 to this family, which in addition to these two species illustrated here, is 

 represented in this State by two smaller flowered species of Lythrum 

 (Lythrum hyssopifolia Linnaeus and L. a 1 a t u m Pursh) and 

 the Clammy Cuphea or Blue Waxweed (P a r s o n s i a p e t i o 1 a t a 

 (Linnaeus) Rusby). 



Swamp Loosestrife; Willow-herb 

 Decodoii vcrticillatus (Linnaeus) Elliott 



Plate 143a 



An herblike perennial growing usualh' in swamps or shallow water. 

 Although appearing like an herbaceous plant it is more or less shrubby. 

 The stems are angular, recurved, smooth and somewhat woody below, 

 3 to 10 feet long, often rooting at the tip when they reach the soil or mud. 

 Leaves lanceolate, opposite or verticillate, 2 to 5 inches long, one-third 



