48 WILD FLOWER FAMILIES 
the small, two-winged, gnat-like flies that are 
found in moist places in the woods. ‘These flies 
carry the pollen from flower to flower as they 
wander in search of the nectar. 
Meapow Rue. In July the great feathery 
flower masses of the tall Meadow Rue are to be 
seen in marshy meadows and along the borders of 
lowland woods. The whole plant gives a very 
decorative effect to the landscape it adorns. The 
stems are slender and full of grace, while the 
foliage is cut into numerous small leaflets rounded 
behind and notched in front, and the delicate 
blossoms look like foamy spray. The flowers are 
not all alike: in general, the more conspicuous 
white blossoms have stamens but not pistils, while 
the less attractive greenish flowers have pistils but 
not stamens. Still others are in a transition 
stage, having both stamens and pistils in varying 
numbers. This appears to bea plant which is pol- 
lenized both through the agency of the wind and 
through that of the insects. The species is widely 
distributed, being found from Labrador to Florida 
on. the Atlantic coast and extending westward 
to Ohio. 
Buttercups. In those happy weeks during 
the latter part of spring 
“When showers of buttercups 
Are gilding the scene, 
Like showers of gold dust 
Thrown over the green.” 
