WILD FLOWERS . BLUE AND PURPLE 
from cultivated fields, which it has overrun since its 
introduction from Europe. The flower lover however, 
will always welcome it along our highways and byways, 
inasmuch as our flora is not over-toned with true blues. 
The stout, bristly-haired biennial stalk is much 
branched, and its light green surface is dotted with red 
or purple. The alternating rough and hairy, oblong 
or lance-shaped leaves are toothless and clasp the stalk, 
and the lower ones are narrowed into short stems. 
The numerous, brilliant blue, tubular, funnel-formed 
flowers are unequally five-lobed. The latter are 
rounded and spreading. They are at first bright blue, 
varying to reddish purple. The five slender stamens 
and the pistil are rosy tinted, and project beyond the 
corolla, adding much to the general fuzziness of the 
plant. The flower buds are pink before they finally 
expand, and the numerous buds are closely arranged 
in a double one-sided row along the ends of the branches 
which are tightly curled. A few flowers on each cluster 
open at a time, as the stem gradually straightens. 
These floral clusters are closely grouped on the stalk, 
and at a distance from the large, thick, clumsy spike. 
The entire plant is so bristly that it is not likely to be- 
come a popular bouquet flower. It is found from Can- 
ada to Virginia and Nebraska, from July to September. 
BLUE VERVAIN. WILD HYSSOP 
Verbéna hastata. Vervain Family. 
During July and August we find the Blue Vervain 
with every one of its slender, upright branches terminat- 
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