YELLOW GROUP 



tip of the peduncle. Leaves, on stem and from the root, notched, 

 of 3 leaflets. 



The common yellow sorrel flower varies greatly in size 

 from a buttercup to a small cinquefoil. The plant is smooth 

 or roughish. Stem-leaves and upright pods contain acid 

 juice, pleasing to pickle-loving school girls. The flowers 

 grow on leafy stems, springing from the leaf-axils, on rather 

 long peduncles. This is one of the plants that conspicuously 

 "sleep" and fold their leaflets at the approach of night. 

 This species bears secondary blossoms, which are pollinated 

 in the closed bud and are especially fruitful. Strangely, the 

 ordinary, more showy flowers absolutely prevent self- 

 pollination by having stamens and anthers of 2 or even 

 3 different lengths, dimorphous or trimorphous. (See illus- 

 tration, p. 182.) 



Orange Milkwort. Wild Bachelor's Button 



Polygala. lutea.. — Family, Milkwort. Color, bright orange yel- 

 low, which is not lost in drying. Button-like heads closely packed 

 with small flowers terminate the stem and branches of this low 

 plant, which grows from 6 to 12 inches high. Lower leaves broad, 

 acute, closely joined to the stem, often tapering at base. Plant, 

 tufted, smooth, with fibrous roots. June to October. 



Not uncommon in Long Island swamps, New Jersey pine 

 barrens, in Pennsylvania, near the coast to Florida and 

 Louisiana. 



Jewel-weed. Balsam. Touch-me-not 



Impktiens pallida. Family, Touch - me - not. Color, yellow, 



somewhat spotted with brown. Flower, irregular. Calyx, yel- 

 lowish, colored like corolla, of 4 sepals. One of the sepals forms 

 a broad sac ending in a curved spur, which is the prominent feat- 

 ure of the flower. Petals, 2, each 2-lobed. Stamens, 5. Pod, 

 5-valved. When ripe, the pod bursts, each valve curling upward 

 and throwing the seeds to some distance. The plant bears also 

 smaller and more fertile flowers, which are pollinated in the bud. 

 The larger ones seldom bear fruit. Leaves, petioled, oval, toothed, 

 the teeth sharp-pointed, pale green, almost silvery underneath. 

 If placed in water the leaves show tints of silver and gold. Smooth, 

 2 to 5 feet high. 



The way in which this plant scatters its seed illustrates 

 one of nature's admirable contrivances for securing wide 

 propagation of its species. It seems a less clumsy method 



183 



