426 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



short pedicels. Stamens, 5. Leaflets, 10 to 20 pairs, sensi- 

 tive. 



Shelley's famous poem, " The Sensitive Plant," refers to the 

 Mimosa pudica, a European plant, whose leaves are more sensitive 

 than those of our cassias. All of this genus fold their leaflets 

 and " sleep " at night. In the partridge-pea each pair folds to- 

 gether, and they then lie along their main stem, flattening them- 

 selves closely against it, so as scarcely to be distinguishable at. 

 night from the branches. 



" A sensitive plant in the garden grew, 

 And the young winds fed it with silver dew; 

 And it opened its fan-like leaves to the light, 

 And closed them beneath the kisses of night.'' 



The leaves of our species are feather-like rather than fan-like. 



These plants are common from New Jersey and Long Island 

 southward. In their season they make bright with color the dry 

 land along the railroads, extending into the fields and lining the 

 waysides. 



34. Hyssop-leaved Thoroughwort 



Eupafbrium hyssopifhiium. — Family, Composite. Color, 

 dirty white. Leaves, narrow, long, crowded and bunched at 

 intervals on the stem, almost whorled in appearance. Time, 

 August and September. 



Corolla, tubular. A common, plebeian plant, with the typi- 

 cal thoroughwort flowers in close, flat heads.' 



Growing in sandy, sterile soil in Massachusetts, on Long Island, 

 southward to Virginia and Kentucky. Height, i to 2 feet. The 

 flower has neither beauty of color nor fragrance. 



35. Kuhnia 



Kuhnia eupatorio'ides. — Family, Composite. Color, cream- 

 white. Leaves, alternate, entire or toothed, lance-shaped to 

 linear. Time, September. 



