32 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



ing from the lower joints. The resemblance of the spearworts 

 to buttercups indicates the near kinship of these flowers. 



3 



R.pusillus is a small, weak-stemmed plant, growing from 6 

 to 2o inches high. Flowers, minute, with yellowish petals. 

 Leaves small, \ inch long, roundish or heart-shaped, the upper 

 ones inclining to lance-shaped. 



This modest spearwort will escape our notice, hidden under 

 larger and more aggressive growths, unless we are determined to 

 find every treasure which the marshy ground contains. 



4. Spreading Globe-flower 



Trollius laxus. — Family, Crowfoot. Color, white or green- 

 ish yellow. Z^rtZ'tf.f, alternate, palmately divided. Time,'M.a.y. 



Sepals, s to 6, petal-like, with a whitish or yellowish color. 

 Petals, small, numerous, shorter than the many stamens, in- 

 dented near the base. Fruit, several sessile pods. Flow- 

 ers, single, terminal, about 2 inches across, not globe-shaped, 

 as its name implies. Stems weak, slender, i to 2 feet long. 



5. Three-leaved Gold-thread 



Cbpiis trifolia {''to cut," alluding to the divided leaves). 

 — Family, Crowfoot. Color, white. Leaves, from the root, 

 3-lobed, the leaflets sharply toothed, shining, evergreen. 

 Time, May. Height, 3 to 5 inches. 



Sepals, 5 to 7, falling early. Petals, same number, club- 

 shaped, small, brought together, and hollow at apex. Sta- 

 mens, numerous. Pistils, 3 to 7, stalked. Flowers on leafless 

 scapes, not conspicuous. 



The beauty of the plant lies in the leaves, which nestle among 

 bog-mosses, and are bright and shining the summer through. 

 The "gold-thread" appears when we dig up the root and find it 

 composed of long, yellow fibres. 



