HARPER'S GUIDE TO WILD FLOWERS 



Night-flowering Catchfly 



S. noctiflbra. — This species opens its petals only by night. The 

 calyx is somewhat swollen, i inch long. Leaves, long, narrow, 

 tapering to a point. 



The pretty, fragrant flowers invite the night-moths by 

 throwing open their petal doors by night. In the daytime 

 they are only wilted, uninteresting flowers. 



Mr. W. H. Gibson says: " ' Is not the midnight like Central 

 Africa to most of us ?' asks Thoreau; and not without reason, 

 for even the best-informed student of daylight natural his- 

 tory may visit his accustomed haunts in the darkness as a 

 pilgrim in a strange land. At least once in the summer to 

 light our lantern and walk among the flowers would well 

 repay us, for the flowers and leaves asleep are a strange, un- 

 wonted sight. And occasionally the rule is reversed, as in 

 the case of the night-flowering catchfly, and the flower, like 

 some belle of the ball dressed in white, is awake, entertaining 

 insect guests, to whom her portals are closed by day." 



Water Nymph. Water Lily 



Castklia odorata. — Family, Water Lily. Sepals, 4. Petals, 

 numerous, the outer broad, concave, growing narrower toward 

 the center, and passing into stamens. According to some au- 

 thorities, this flower exhibits rather the transformation of stamens 

 into petals. Pistil, with a many-celled ovary, whose rounded 

 top bears radiate stigmas around a central projection. The stem 

 is hollow, long enough to bring the blossom out of water. Leaves, 

 thick, roundish, heart-shaped, 6 or 8 inches across, long-petioled, 

 with entire margins, often reddish underneath. June to August. 



The flower opens in the morning and closes at night. 



This pure and beautiful water queen, with its ravishing 

 fragrance, is everywhere a favorite. Its large, handsome 

 leaves make us think of smooth waters with green banks, and 

 an idle hour, perhaps, spent in a rowboat with a friend. 

 Pity that such nymphs should have acquired a commercial 

 value, and that boys with hot, perspiring hands should drag 

 them about in the sun on our city streets and into the rail- 

 way trains for the few pennies they will bring. 



Common White Water Crowfoot 



Ranunculus aquatilis, var. capittaceous, — Family, Crowfoot. 

 Petals and sepals, 5. At the base of the petals a spot or indenta- 



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