2o6 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



yellow. Leaves, long, cut, with wavy margins. Time, sum- 

 mer. 



A tall plant, reaching the height of 8 or 9 feet. Its leaves 

 are nearly a foot long below and become smaller above. The 

 cream-colored flowers grow in long, leafy panicles. 



Common along roadsides, in borders of fields, also in copses, 

 in damp soil. 



67, Pimpernel 



Anagallis arvensis. — Family, Primrose. Cb/iJr, variable, 

 copper color, blue, or white. Leaves, opposite or whorled, ses- 

 sile, egg-shaped, small. Time, June to August. 



Calyx and corolla regularly 5-parted. Stamens, 5, their fila- 

 ments purple bearded. Pistil, i. Flowers, small, wheel- 

 shaped. Stem, low, spreading. Flowers on long stems, sin- 

 gle in upper leaf-axils. The petals close upon the approach 

 of a shower, from which one of the popular names is poor 

 man's weather-glass. They also close at night and soon after 

 being picked. 



I know of no other flower tinged with just this shade of red. 

 It is often called scarlet pimpernel, but it is not scarlet so much 

 as terra-cotta. It is a dear little plant, often seen lying so thick- 

 ly on the ground as to dot the field with its bright color. I have 

 picked it in sprays 20 inches long. 



68. Indian Tobacco 



Lobelia inflata (named from De I'Obel, a Flemish bota- 

 nist). — Family, Lobelia. Color, blue-purple. Leaves, toothed, 

 sessile, ovate, or oblong. Pointed. Time, August. 



Corolla and calyx tubular. Both 5-divided. Corolla split. 

 Flowers in loose racemes, small, with a few minute leaves. 

 The calyx is swollen, and the ripe pod is bladder-shaped. 

 Plant, 10 to 20 inches in height. 



A poisonous plant, formerly used in the Thomsonian school 

 as an emetic. 



