238 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



of s petals, inserted on the calyx, opening only on sunny morn- 

 ings, falling soon. Stamens, 7 to 12. Style, i, but deeply 5- 

 or 6-parted. Pod, round, opening by a lid hinged on one side, 

 called a pyxis, disclosing numerous seeds neatly arranged 

 within. 



This persistent weed lies flat on the ground. The farmer, when 

 he wants a strong comparison, says, "As mean as pusley." His 

 wife does not disdain to use its succulent stem and leaves for 

 an insipid and mucilaginous table vegetable. The leaves of this 

 plant turn upward at night, two of them clinging together when 

 they are opposite. 



17. Common St. John's-wort 



Hypericum perforutum. — Family, St. John's-wort. Color, 

 bright yellow. Leaves, oblong or lance-shaped, pellucid dotted, 

 opposite, sessile, meeting and almost clasping the stem. Time, 

 summer, into September. 



Sepals, 5. Petals, 5. Stamens very numerous, united in 3 

 or 5 groups. Styles, t,. /'(?(/, 3 -celled. Petals and anthers 

 dotted with black. A much-branched, leafy stem, with run- 

 ners starting near the base, and many flowers in a flat cluster. 



Very common. A weed when once established difficult to ex- 

 tirpate. Juice tart and blistering to the mouth. Where not too 

 common, it is a bright and attractive plant. Imported from 

 Europe, i to 2 feet high. 



18. Common Mallow 



Malva rotundifolia. — Family, MaWo-w. G?/!?^, white, with 

 pink or lavender veins. Leaves, on long petioles, round, 

 heart-shaped at base, with broadly toothed outlines. Slightly 

 lobed. Time, summer. 



Calyx of s sepals, under which are 3 narrow bracts. Pet- 

 als, s, notched. Stamens, united by their filaments into a 

 tube. The kidney-shaped anthers are clustered at the top. 



