Crowfoot jfamilp. 



Cohosh. Actcea spicala, 



Red Baneberry. '"«^- *'^^^«- 



Found in the woods during May. 



The small round smooth stalk branches near the top, and grows 

 about 2 feet high. It is green, with a cool gray-white bloom. 



The leaf is rather large, and compound, being 2 or 3 times 

 divided ; the leaflets are oval, taper-pointed, and set on long, grooved, 

 shining foot-stems ; the margin is prettily toothed, with an occasional 

 deep notch, the ribs and veins show like a fine network, the texture is 

 loose, with a noticeable softness to the touch, the surface is shining ; 

 the color green. The leaf is set immediately upon the stalk. 



The flower is very small ; 4 to 10 white petals with oval tips and 

 very slender bases ; the many delicate, white stamens, with yellow tips, 

 are longer than the petals. The flowers are arranged in a large, loose, 

 round or club-shaped spike, on a long smooth stem, that springs from 

 the junction of the leaf. 



The calyx drops as the flowers open, and the petals soon fall al^o, 

 leaving the stamens, which remain some time ; these are succeeded by 

 the ripening berries that are to be seen frequently during August in 

 deep woods ; they are oval in shape and of a shining coral red. The 

 plant seldom bears more than a single spike of flowers. 



The White Baneberry, A. alba, is very like the Red, but its berries 

 (called "Dolls' Eyes" iu Massachusetts) are shining white with a black 

 dot, and their foot-stems are noticeably larger. 



i8 



