HARPER'S GUIDE TO WILD FLOWERS 



have found it high up on hillsides and in low, dry fields. 

 The garden Sweet William is a near relative of this pink. An 

 English species is the origin of our cultivated carnations and 

 clove pinks. (See illustration, p. 257.) 



Spring Beauty 



Claytbnia <virginica. — Family, Purslane. Color, pink with 

 deeper veinings, or occasionally white with pink veinings. heaves, 

 long, narrow, grass-like, thick, a pair opposite, on the stem. 

 Sepals, 2. Petals, 5. Stamens, 5, joined to the petals. Flowers, 

 few, in a loose raceme, on long, thick, fleshy stems, from a small 

 tuberous root. April and May. 



Delicate, star-like blossoms, on fragile stems. When 

 plucked, the petals quickly close and the whole plant droops. 

 It is at best but an evanescent beauty, opening only in sun- 

 light, closing at night. 6 to 1 2 inches high. The flowers all 

 turn in one direction — as the botanists say, are secund. 

 Common in all bur woods. (See illustration, p. 259.) 



C. ca.rolinia.na. has broader leaves, fewer and smaller blossoms. 

 The two species are not often found together. The closing of 

 the petals at night seems to bring about self-pollination, for the 

 pollen falls upon the petals, and they fold over and drop the 

 grains on the stigma. 



There is no prettier sight than a wood whose trees are 

 lightly leaved out in early May, carpeted thickly with the 

 Claytonia's pink stars. Bryant says: 



"And the spring beauty boasts no tenderer streak 

 Than the soft red on many a youthful cheek." 



Wild Columbine 



Aquilegia canadensis, — Family, Crowfoot. Color, red and yel- 

 low. (See Variegated Flowers, p. 372.) 



Pale Corydalis 



Corydalis sempervirens. — Family, Fumitory. Color of petals, a 

 delicate rose, tipped with yellow. Sepals, 2, small, like scales. 

 Corolla of 4 petals, the upper extending into a short, rounded 

 spur. Stamens, 6, in 2 sets of 3 each, the middle stamen of each 

 group bearing a 2-celled, the outside ones a 1 -celled, anther. 

 Pistil, 1, making a long, slender pod. Flowers, about \ inch long, 

 in panicled clusters. Leaves, delicate, pale green, pinnately cut 

 or divided, the upper almost sessile, the lower with short petioles, 



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