July and August Flowers. 253 



stem, with large yeltow flowers, whose conical disk, and 

 drooping rays will at once identify them, forms a very conspic- 

 uous object. The Sunflowers, Helianthus, of which there are 

 five or six species, also are now in their glory ; and H. divari- 

 catus, especially, is very showy. This makes a very fine 

 plant by cultivation. Senecio aureus, Hieracium venosum, Na- 

 ylus albiis, or Prenantkes alba, Mikania scandens, are all Com- 

 posite, worthy of examination. Several of the genera Pyrola 

 and Chimaphila are in flower, and if an emblem of neatness is 

 needed, you have it in P. rotundifolia. Both these Ericaceae. 

 indeed, are among our prettiest low plants. Their species are 

 called by a variety of names, such as Prince's Pine, Winter- 

 green, Shinleaf, &c. Now is the time to look for those singular 

 parasites— or supposed parasites, — Orobanche, and Epiphegus, 

 called Broom-rape, and Beech-drops. Many of the Labiatee 

 and Scrophulariaceae are blooming. These, though there are 

 many handsome flowers among them, we must pass over for 

 the present without much notice, merely giving the names of 

 some of the more remarkable. Of the Figwort tribe, the Mul- 

 lein, Verbascum thapsus, is in every field, and its neater relative, 

 V. blattaria, is much more pretty and rare. Linaria vulgaris, 

 or Toad-flax, is frequent, sometimes in large patches by the 

 roadside, and its queerly formed yellow flowers are worth 

 looking at. Chelone glabra, or Snake-head ; Mimulus ringens 

 and alatus, called Monkey-flower; Leptandra virginica, or 

 Culver's (not our publisher, whose prescriptions are of a more 

 satisfactory nature to us) Physic, a very handsome white flow- 

 ered plant, by the way ; several species of Gerardia, a good 



looking genus, are all the Scrophu — (the word is too long) we 



have time to mention. Of the LabiatEe, are blossoming the 

 mints, Spearmint, Peppermint, Horsemint ; the very common 

 Lycopus, called Water hoarhound ; the Mountain mint, a pretty 

 plant, with very variable flowers ; Pycnanthemum ; Collinsonia / 

 Hedeoma, or Pennyroyal; Scutellaria, two or three species ; 

 Prunella, Leonurus, Teucrium, and several other genera. The 

 Fringed Gentian, Gentiana crinita, is one of our prettiest flowers. 

 The bright bluish purple corolla, so finely fringed at the mar- 

 gin, will attract the special attention of the observer. It lives 

 in cool, wet places, by the sides of brooks and ponds. 



