WHITE GROUP 



The pistils, i to 3, help the soft appearance of the flower- 

 spike by tufted, plumy stigmas capping long styles. The 

 flowers, each one small, are crowded together, much like a 

 cat-tail in size and shape. The plant grows tall, 2 to 6 feet, 

 with large leaves, bearing stipules also serrate, joined to the 

 stem. 



A very common and showy plant, near the coast, in marshy 

 ground. It grows with the beach golden-rod, among sterile 

 fronds of the royal fern, tangled with beach pea stems, its 

 wavy, white spikes towering above them all. (See illus- 

 tration, p. 88.) 



White Clover 



Trifdlium repens. — Family, Pulse. The common white clover 

 is too well known to need much description. It has the papilion- 

 aceous corolla (see p. 8), a 5 -cleft calyx, with bristly teeth, much 

 shorter than the corolla. The corolla turns brown, remaining 

 after the flower has withered. Stems slender, creeping. Leaflets 

 notched or heart-shaped. The stipules which are often prominent 

 in this Family are small, like scales. 



Found everywhere in fields throughout the summer. It 

 is sweet-scented. Honey made from white clover is de- 

 licious. 



White Melilot 



Melildtus alba. — Family, Pulse. The standard of the white 

 corolla is longer than the other petals. The flowers grow in 

 elongated, spike-like racemes. Leaflets, narrow to oblong, finely 

 serrate. 



A tall species, fragrant when dried, like the scent of new- 

 mown hay. At night 2 of the leaflets fold together. The 

 other, says Mr. Gibson, "is left out in the cold." 



A roadside plant, sometimes a weed, but one that likes 

 rich soil. 



Hairy Vetch or Tare 



Vicia hirsuta. — Family, Pulse. Corolla, sometimes white, but 

 more often a pale blue. (See p. 317.) 



Common Wood Sorrel 

 Oxalis Acetosetta ("sour," referring to the acid juice of the 

 stem and leaves). — Family, Geranium. Color, white, with crim- 

 son or purplish veinings. Parts of the open, spreading flower in 

 fives. Stamens, 10. Petals often notched. Styles, 5, separate. 

 Flowers, single, one inch across, very pretty with their dark vein- 



89 



