252 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



59. Tumble-weed 



A. dlbus has pale -green to whitish stems, with slender 

 branches. Flowers, in small axillary clust-ers. Stamens and 

 sepals, 3. This weed is often uprooted by the wind and 

 blown about on the Western prairies, whence the common 

 name. 



60. Pigweed. Lamb's-quarters 



Chenbpodium &lbum. — Family, Goostioot. Color, green. 

 Leaves, narrow above, broader below, angularly toothed. 

 Time, spring, summer. 



The farmer's wife boils the tender tops of this weed, not 

 knowing that the plant is nearly related to her garden spinach 

 and beets. As the plant grows older it becomes white and 

 mealy. Flowers in spikes or panicles, small, without corolla. 



61. Russian Thistle 



Sdlsofa Tragus. — Family, Goosefoot. Color of leaves and 

 outer branches, red. Leaves, rigid, needle-like, tipped with a 

 prickle, clustered, long, somewhat fleshy. 



Calyx, 5-parted, each division with a broad, strongly veiny 

 wing, which encloses the fruit. Stamens, 5. Styles, 2. Flow- 

 ers in axils of the leaves. Plant branched, bushy, an impor- 

 tation from Europe or Asia, and a pernicious weed in New 

 Jersey and northward. 



62. Scoke. Pokeweed. Garget. Pigeon-berry 



Phytolacca decdndra. — Family, Pokeweed. Color, white. 

 Leaves, large, smooth, thick, oval, pointed, veiny, alternate. 

 Time, July to September. 



Calyx of 5 white sepals, with a pink tint on the outside. 

 Corolla, wanting. Stamens, 10, giving the specific name. 

 Styles, 10. Ovary, green, conspicuous, forming in fruit a 10- 



