338 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



71. Wood-betony. Lousewort 



Pedicularis Canad'ansis. — Family, Figwort. Color, yellow 

 and purplish red. Leaves, the larger from the root, on long, 

 hairy petioles, deeply cut; the upper near the flowers, less 

 incised, much smaller, short petioled. Bracts among the 

 flowers. Time, May to July. 



Calyx, tubular, entire, except for a slit down the front. 

 Corolla, 2-lipped, the upper lip bent and curved inward, en- 

 closing 4 stamens; the lower 3-lobed, the side lobes large 

 and spreading. Capsule, sword-shaped, slightly beaked, open- 

 ing by a slit on the upper side. Flowers in thick, short spikes. 

 Those which are mostly red in color have reddish stems and 

 leaves ; yellow clusiers have pale stems and leaves ; and these 

 two brunette and blond beauties often stand side by side. 

 They grow in clumps, conspicuous mainly from their fern-like 

 foliage. 5 to 10 inches high. 



There are 100 species of Pedicularis, most of them growing in 

 the Arctic regions and Rocky Mountains. 



Our species love light shade, taking to the open woods. They 

 are early, following closely upon the spring flowers. Often they 

 are out of bloom by June ist. This is the manner of the plant's 

 growth. When the flower-stems spring up, new growths form 

 beside them, making tufts of a dozen or so leaves. These remain 

 the first season a rosette at the root. They are a sort of spiral 

 branch drawn in. Next spring the branch shoots up, uncoils, 

 straightens, and bears the flower. 



72. Common Speedwell 



Veronica officinalis. — Family, Figwort. Color, blue. 

 Leaves, with short stems, opposite, oblong. Time, July. 



Flowers in axillary, opposite racemes, very small, much 

 crowded, with short pedicels. Plant softly hairy, prostrate and 

 creeping. 



