362 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



18. W^ood-sorrel 



Oxalis Acetosella ("sour," referring to the acid juice of 

 the stem and leaves). — Family, Geranium. Coior, white, with 

 crimson veinings. Leaves, from the root, each composed of 3 

 notched, broad leaflets. Time, June, July. 



Parts of the flower in fives, with 10 stamens. The petals 

 are ofien notched. Flowers, i inch across, very pretty with 

 their dark veinings, the petals thrown back, the stamens and 

 styles evident. They terminate delicate, leafless scapes, spring- 

 ing with the leaves from a creeping rootstock. The leaves 

 close or sleep at night, folding backward. The whole plant 

 lies upon the ground in the deep forest in little bunches or 

 clusters. It produces cleistogamous flowers, small, fertilized 

 in the bud, very fruitful. 



19. Goat's-beard 



Spiraea ArSncus. — Family, Rose. Color, whitish. Leaves, 

 thrice pinnate, with thin, long, sharply toothed leaflets. Time, 

 June. 



Sepals and petals, 5. Stamens, many. Stamens and pistils 

 in different plants. Flowers in slender spikes, making a com- 

 pound panicle long and pendent. 



New York to Georgia and westward. 



20, Bowman's-root. Itidian Physic 



Gillenia irifoliata. — Family, Rose. Color, pale pink or 

 white. Leaves of 3 thin, pointed, toothed leaflets, cut, ovate 

 to oblong, sessile, with small stipules. Time, spring. 



Calyx, a long and narrow tube, with 5 erect teeth. Corolla, 

 of 5 unequal, slender petals springing from within the calyx- 

 tube. Stametis, many. Pistils, 5, making 5 pods, each 2- to 4- 

 seeded. Flowers in loose clusters. 



New York and New Jersey to Georgia, and westward. 



