MICHIGAN WEEDS. 



333 



Fig. 72 (G4). 



Soapwort. Bouncing Bet. Saponaria officinalis L. Perennial, smooth, stout, 

 sparingly branched, leafy, 30-50 cm. high; leaves opposite, ovate or oval, 3-5-ribbed, 

 acute, 4-6 cm. long: flowers, pink or white in dense terminal cluster, sometimes double, 

 calyx tubular, corolla about 2 cm. broad, petals obcordate, with a scale at the base of 

 the blade; the mucilaginous juice forming a lather with water. Spreading from root 

 stocks, common along roadsides and in waste places, especially in sandy land. Intro- 

 duced from Europe. 



