ROSACEAE 



ROSE FAMILY 



WHITE AVENS 



Geum canadense Jacq. 



This plant is common in shaded places, widely distributed 

 along forest borders throughout most oF the eastern United 

 States and Canada, and blooms from June to August. It is 

 common in rich open wood- 

 lands of Illinois. 



The slender branching 

 stems are often covered 

 with soft hairs but may be 

 entirely smooth as shown. 

 They grow 18-30 inches 

 high and bear alternate 

 leaves which are 3 or 5- 

 lobed or unlobed. In ad- 

 dition to the stem leaves 

 there is a cluster of basal 

 leaves which have long 

 petioles and are 3-lobed or 

 pinnately 3 or 5-divided into 

 unequal segments, some- 

 times with smaller seg- 

 ments on the petioles. 



The green calyx is 

 5-lobed and has a bractlet 

 in each sinus. The «; small 

 petals are white and the 

 numerous yellow-tipped stamens surround the central cluster 

 of green pistils. The reflexed calyx lobes persist on the fruits, 

 which are akenes on a cylindrical receptacle as shown. The per- 

 sistent styles are jointed and hooked so that they readily cling 

 to clothing or the fur of animals. 



There are two yellow-flowered Avens common in Illinois. 

 One is the Yellow Avens, Geum strictum Ait., which grows in 

 swamps and moist meadows and blooms in July and August. The 

 other is the Spring Avens, Geum verniim (Raf.) T. & G., which 

 grows in shaded places and blooms from April to June. Its 

 cluster of fruits is stalked and so raised well above the persistent 

 calyx. The North American distribution of these species is about 

 the same, being generally Ontario to Tennessee and Texas. The 

 Yellow Avens ranges farther, however, to Newfoundland, British 

 Columbia and New Mexico. 



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