jfigwort family. 



Slender Gerardia. Gerardia tenuifoUa. 



Little Gerardia. 



Found, during August and September, on dry banks. 



The erect, branching, and sparingly leafy stalk grows from 4 to 10 

 inches high ; it is slender, and smooth. Green, tinged with reddish- 

 brown. 



The leaves are long and narrow, almost needle-like ; in color green. 

 They are set alternately upon the stalk. 



The corolla is an irregular bell-shape with 5 rounded lobes, 2 

 being smaller than the others, and folded over to cover the pistil and 

 stamens ; its color is a pale magenta. The 4 stamens are woolly, and 

 yellow-tinted ; the calyx is small and 5-toothed, and green. The flowers 

 grow on slender foot-stems along the sides of the stalk and branches. 



As the fruit ripens the stems and seed-boxes tui'n reddish-brown. 

 This is a common flower along roadsides. 



472 



