1 88 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SIVAMP 



Calyx lube 4-lobed, much prolonged, as in the preceding. 

 Petals, 4, unequal, with claws. Stamens, 8. Style, long, capped 

 by a 4-divided stigma, around which is a curious raised bor- 

 der. The flowers are small, in spikes. Stem tall and stout, 

 3 to 8 feet. The whole plant is downy, with soft hairs. 



27. Clammy Cuphea. Blue Wax-weed 

 Cuphea viscosfssima. — Family, Loosestrife. Color, ma- 

 genta. Leaves, opposite, oblong or lance-shaped. Time, Sep- 

 tember, October. 



A much -ribbed, purplish, sticky calyx tube, swollen or 

 slightly spurred near the base, on the upper side, with 6 teeth 

 above, and as many points between the regular divisions. 

 Petals, 6, 2 much larger than the rest, 4 narrow, thread-like, 

 inserted on top of the calyx tube. They quickly shrivel after 

 the flower is plucked. The capsule is thin, easily ruptured. 

 The seeds are borne on one side of the placenta, which springs 

 backward and out of the pod, looking like a handle. This 

 peculiarity of the pod will identify the plant. It is a late fall 

 flower, growing in dry pastures. The stem is sticky, hairy, 

 often reddish. The flowers are single, or several, with pedun- 

 cles. 



28. Poison Hemlock 



Conium maculatum.— Family, Parsley. Color, white. Leaves, 

 large, twice divided ; leaflets pale green, lance-shaped, cut. 

 Time, July. 



Stem spotted and smooth. A tall branching herb whose 

 leaves give forth an unpleasant odor when crushed. Both in- 

 volucre and involucels present of 3 to 5 bracts. 2 to 5 ft. high. 



This plant is the famous hemlock which Socrates was con- 

 demned to drink. It was the means often employed in Athens 

 for putting criminals to death. It should be identified to be 

 avoided, for its juices are as deadly to-day as when the great 

 philosopher calmly drank of the fatal cup. 



