BLUE AND PURPLE FLOWERS 
Fringed Gentian (Gentiana crinlta). Gentian family. 
September, October. 
An annual with erect branches, a foot or two in height, some- 
times taller. The flowers are an inch or two long, solitary, 
terminal, the calyx four-pointed, the corolla with four broad 
lobes ending in a fringe, stamens four. The color " varies from 
pale to deep violet-blue, but with occasionally a ruddy tinge, 
but with never a suspicion of true blue, though lines of a deeper 
blue- violet appear on the outer surface of the corolla " 
(Mathews). The leaves are numerous, lance-shaped, from 
rounded bases, without stalks. Low grounds. This beautiful 
blossom appears in considerable profusion about Poland Spring 
in September. 
Beard-tongue (Pentstemon hirsutus). Figwort family. 
May to July 
An upright perennial with viscid-hairy stem, not over two 
feet high. Flowers (nearly an inch long) loosely clustered on 
stalks from axils; corolla light-purple with two whitish lips, 
long cylindrical, throat bearded, four fertile stamens and one 
sterile. Leaves lance-shaped (two to four inches), lowest egg- 
shaped or oblong, usually finely toothed, upper without stalks. 
Dry ground. Common southward. The Greek name signifies 
five stamens. 
Heart-leaved Twayblade {Listkra cordata). Orchis family. 
Early summer. 
A delicate orchid, a few inches high. The minute purple 
flowers are in raceme; three sepals, three petals, all more or 
less alike; the lip, which is longer than the others, is forked like 
a swallow's tail. Named after Martin Lister. 
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