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SAPONARIA VACCARIA, L. (Plate II.) 
(Cow Herb ; Cockle.) 
Very smooth throughout; 1 to 2 feet high, branched above. 
Leaves opposite, connate, lower oblong, upper ovate-lanceolate. 
Flowers in open cymes, pink. Calyx 5-angled, enlarged in fruit. 
Stamens, 10 ; styles, 2. Annual. 
This is an introduction from Europe. At one time it was 
grown in gardens as an ornamental; its seeds were scattered, it be¬ 
came spontaneous, and is now well naturalized in many localities. 
It found its way to Colorado certainly as early as 1874, for on the 
authority of two collectors it is recorded as “introduced” in the 
flora published by Porter and Coulter in that year. The plant is 
now so abundant in grain fields as to rank among our worst pests; 
in many places it springs up abundantly in gardens and among 
hoed crops, but where the ground is cultivated it is easily mastered. 
When once started among grain, there is no remedy except to des¬ 
troy when in flower. Seed is no doubt often sown with the grain, 
but this can be avoided with a little care; the seed is easier to sep¬ 
arate than that of the corn cockle (Agrostemma Githago, L.), so 
troublesome in the Eastern States; it is smaller, nearly globular, 
very minutely roughened, and can be screened out easily. Plants 
should not be allowed to mature in waste places; they are”not 
strongly rooted, and in the fall they break off or blow out and go 
rolling like a tumble weed, carrying their seed with them to consid¬ 
erable distances. 
GAURA PARVIFLORA, Dougl. (Plate III.) 
(Small Flowered Gaura.) 
Annual; 2 to 7 feet high, from a long, slender tap-root. Stem 
at first simple, at length branching from the axils of the leaves. 
Leaves sessile, ovate-lanceolate, denticulate, sparsely covered with 
long villous hairs, and also with short hairs which are somewhat 
glandular. As the plant matures the leaves fall away, so that in 
the fall only a few below the spikes remain. The small flowers in 
long virgate spikes. Calyx tube prolonged beyond the ovary, 
4-lobed. Petals, 4 ; stamens, 8 ; stigma 4-lobed. 
This weed is a native; it ranges from Washington to Texas, 
east to the Misouri and westward to Utah. In some localities it is 
so abundant in grain fields and meadows as to give it rank among 
the worst weeds. It propagates only by seed, which it produces 
freely. Preventing seed formation by destruction before or at the 
time of flowering, is the remedy. 
