344 OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 175. 



225 Scarlet Pimpernel (A) *Anagallis arvensis L. Scarlet pimpernel is a 

 low, spreading- plant, with 4-sided stems and small, oval, opposite leaves about 

 1-2 inch in length. The flowers are scarlet to white, commonly with dark center, 

 upon conspicuous stalks, opening- only in bright weather. Abundant in waste 

 places and ranking with the chickweeds in character. Seeds numerous, brown, 

 irregularly triangular, about 1-24 inch long. 



EBONY FAMILY, EBENACE^E. 



226 Persimmon (P) Diospyios Virginiana L. The persimmon occurs 

 throughout southern Ohio and, often like sassafras and hickory, proves a serious 

 pest. It can be removed, however, by grubbing in the manner recommeuded for 

 the other shrubs just named. 



GENTIAN FAMILY, GENTIANACE^E. 



227 Sabbatia (B) Sabbatia angularis (L. ) Pursh. Is a handsome plant, 

 1 to 2 feet high, with 4-sided and wing-angled stem, much branched toward 

 the top. The leaves are egg-shaped, and somewhat heart-shaped at the clasp- 

 ing base. The flowers are showy and rose colored. This is very frequent in 

 dry grass lands throughout the coal measure region. It is not especially trouble- 

 some and can be cleaned out by cutting. 



DOGBANE FAMILY, APOCYNACEyE. 



228 Periwinkle (P) *Vinca mino? L. The common periwinkle, incorrectly 

 called myrtle, is frequently planted for ornament. It has long, trailing stems, 

 green leaves persisting throughout the winter, and pretty, bluish-purple blos- 

 soms. It also has extensive underground stems by means of which it invades 

 surrrounding areas. While very pretty to bank about dense evergreens, it 

 should never be planted intentionally and should be treated to liberal doses of 

 hoe and salt until exterminated. The old proverb applies in the planting of 

 such weeds. 



229 Spreading Dogbane (P) Apocynum andtoscemifolium L. The spread- 

 ing dogbane is a low plant, usually about a foot high, with milky, poisonous 

 juice. The stem has many diverging branches, the leaves are egg-shaped with 

 afoot-stalk (petiole), the flowers numerous, 1-3 of an inch across, rose colored 

 and handsome. The leafstalks and larger, pretty flowers distinguish it from 

 the next. This weed has long, running - rootstocks like the common milkweed; 

 these render it difficult to eradicate. It infests dry thickets and borders. I 

 have met it most frequently as a field weed in the vineyards of northern Ohio. 



Seeds brown, slender, about 3-16 inch long, with a dense tuft of silky hairs 

 at the tip for carrying by the wind. These seeds are contained in slender, 

 smooth, tapering pods about four inches long by 3-16 inch in diameter. Can be 

 destroyed only by continuous clean cultivation or by repeated hoe cutting. As 

 in other examples of rootstocks, these must be starved out. 



230 Indian Hemp, Dogbane (P) Apocynum cannabinum L. Is the more 

 poisonous and troublesome of the two, and is spoken of through the state as the 

 small-leaved milkweed; the leaves are oval or tapering, two inches or less in 

 length. It has, like the other, milk}' juice, but grows taller and more erect, 3 

 to 5 feet high, with small yellowish-green flowers in broad clusters at the tips 

 of the stems and branches. The pods are tapering as in the other but longer, 

 5 to 6 inches. The leaves are almost without stalks. Indian hemp has yet 

 more numerous rootstocks, and growing as it does, in rather damp bottoms, it is 

 difficult to destroy. The plant has been suggested for fiber production, but for 

 this purpose is thought to be inferior to swamp milkweed. (See Fig. 40. ) 



