WILD FLOWERS OF NEW YORK 91 



late, 2 to 6 inches long, nearly sessile, acuminate" at both ends, conspicuously 

 dotted, usually with a triangular or lunar dark blotch near the center; ocreae 

 eylindric, fringed with short bristles. Flowers in dense, erect, ovoid or 

 oblong racemes, one-half to 2 inches long, pink to dark purple; stamens 

 usually six. 



Native of Europe but naturalized and often an abundant weed in 

 waste places throughout North America, except in the extreme north. 



Arrow-leaved Tearthumb 

 Tracaulon sagittatum (Linnaeus) Small 



Plate 48a 



Stems slender, weak, annual, decumbent, or climbing over other plants 

 by the numerous sharp, recurved prickles which arm its four prominent 

 angles. Leaves lanceolate-sagittate or oblong-sagittate, 1 to 3 inches long, 

 pointed at the apex, slightly rough margined, the lower leaves petioled, 

 upper ones sessile or nearly so, prickly on the petioles and beneath on the 

 midribs; ocreae oblique, not ciliate. Flowers in terminal heads or racemes, 

 rose-colored or greenish; stamens usually eight in number; style three- 

 parted. 



In wet soil, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to the Northwest Territory, 

 south to Florida and Kansas. Flowering from July to September. 



Halberd-leaved Tearthumb 



Tracaulon arifolium (Linnaeus) Rafinesque 



Plate 48b 



Stems angled, reclining, 2 to 6 feet long from a perennial root, armed 

 with recurved prickles. Leaves broadly hastate, long petioled, 1 to 8 inches 

 long, pubescent or glabrous beneath, the apex and basal lobes sharp pointed; 

 petioles and larger nerves prickly; peduncles and pedicels glandular; ocreae 

 oblique, fringed at the summit with short bristles and at the base with 

 slender prickles. Flowers in terminal and axillary heads or racemes, rose- 

 colored or greenish, four parted. Stamens six; style two-parted. 



