Part 7

[Illustration: ENCHANTER’S NIGHTSHADE: Circæa alpina.]

GOURD FAMILY.

CUCURBITACEÆ.

*One-seeded Bur-cucumber.* _Sicyos angulatus._ *One-seeded Star-cucumber.*

Found in blossom from July to September, on moist ground, and along river banks.

A vine, with a coarse, rough stem, climbing by aid of little spirally twisted tendrils.

The broad leaf is more or less 5-pointed, or lobed, with a heart-shaped base, and a long tapering tip; the surface is roughened by small hairs, and the texture is loose and coarse; it has a short foot-stem, and is bright green.

The small 5-pointed flowers are of two kinds; the stamen-bearing ones, in clusters of 4 or 5 on a long foot-stem, spring from the angles of the leaves, while the seed-bearing blossoms are in almost stemless clusters close in the angles: they are greenish white, with yellow stamens.

A single large seed is enclosed in a flattened, pointed pod, which is armed with many fine, tough, bristles, that are easily detached in plucking and are irritating to the skin. The vine has a great number of tendrils.

[Illustration: BUR-CUCUMBER: Sicyos angulatus.]

PARSLEY FAMILY.

UMBELLIFERÆ.

*Sweet Cicely.* _Osmorrhiza longistylis._

Found northward, in rich, moist woods, blossoming in May and June.

The round, smooth stalk bears leaves at long intervals, and is in color green, running into dull purple. It is 1 to 3 feet in height.

The large compound leaf is 3 times divided, and has the general aspect of a fern leaf; the taper-pointed leaflets have strongly notched margins, and noticeable ribs; the texture is thin, and the color green.

The small flower has 5 somewhat unequal, heart-shaped, white petals, 5 stamens, and a long calyx.

The anise-like flavor of the large root renders it attractive to the palate of the herb-browser. The long seeds are armed with backward pointing prickles, and snatch rides on the wayfarer’s garments after the manner of the plebeian Beggar-ticks. Cicely is sweet, tall, and graceful in gesture, fine in the finish of its leaf joints, and distinguished by a few fern-like leaves; apparently a plant of good breeding. Where could its seeds have learned such a beggarly trick!

[Illustration: SWEET CICELY: Osmorrhiza longistylis.]

*Meadow Parsnip.* _Zizia aurea._

Found in meadow grass lands, in May and June.

The sparingly branched stalk, from 2 to 3 feet high, is tough-fibred, and smooth, though channeled with many fine grooves; it is hollow, with an aromatic smell, and usually tends to a dull red color.

The 2- or 3-times divided leaf has narrow leaflets, tapering to the tip, and sharply toothed on the edge; the surface is smooth, and the texture firm; the color a strong, full-toned green. The leaves are few, at long intervals, on short foot-stems that widen into a leafly membrane, partly clasping the main stalk.

The minute yellow flower has 5 petals, turned in toward the center; the stamens and pistil are small, and the calyx is of a pale yellow-green color; the flowers grow in flat-topped clusters, from 2 to 3 inches broad, or larger.

In the hand, the Meadow Parsnip seems a little coarse in color and texture, but its aspect is pleasing when seen lifting its bright yellow green-ribbed parasols above the meadow grass.

[Illustration: MEADOW PARSNIP: Zizia aurea.]

*Sanicle.* _Sanicula Marylandica._ *Black Snake-root.*

Found in woods, and light shrubbery, in June.

The simple, sparingly branched stalk grows from 2 to 3 feet high, and is round, smooth, slightly grooved, and hollow; it is green in color.

The leaf is deeply cut, or divided, from the base, (“palmate”) into from 3 to 6 long-pointed divisions, sharply notched on the edge; in color rather dark green. The leaves clasp the stalk by a very short, leafy sheath, and appear clustered at the top, and alternate below, while the root-leaves are on long stems.

The small, greenish-yellow flower has 5 petals with the tips turned inward and tucked down into the center of the flower; under the petals are concealed the stamens (which emerge at length, however). The flowers are on very short foot-stems arranged in hemispherical heads, three or four heads usually in a cluster, on the end of the stem. Two kinds, stamen-bearing and pistil-bearing, are found in the same head; the former dry up brown, while the latter develop burs armed with little hooked spines.

Though the flower is not conspicuous in color, the plant claims notice for its rather graceful, swaying gesture.

[Illustration: SANICLE: Sanicula Marylandica.]

*Cow Parsnip.* _Heracleum lanatum._

Found in moist rich grounds, often on the edge of shade, in blossom in June.

The stalk grows very tall, sometimes 7 or 8 feet high; it is large, round, and grooved--though not deeply so; it is hollow, with a strong parsnip smell; and grass-green in color.

The leaf is compound, in three divisions, and large, the lower leaves being sometimes a foot or more in length; each leaflet is more or less deeply lobed, and sharply notched on the edge, and set on a short foot-stem; the ribs are large, the upper surface almost smooth, while the lower surface is soft and woolly; coarse in texture, and of a strong dark green color. The main foot-stem of the leaf, widens into a leafy membrane that partly clasps the stalk. The few large leaves are alternate.

The flower is small, and 5-petalled, the petals heart-shaped, or deeply notched; the outer flowers are larger than the inner ones, and their petals are quite unequal in size. In color white. They grow in wide spreading, flat-topped clusters, sometimes 10 or 12 inches across.

On close approach the Cow Parsnip appears coarse in general make-up; seen from a distance however it looks a plant of splendid swing and unbounded vigor, a veritable Hercules of the fields!

[Illustration: COW PARSNIP: Heracleum lanatum--⅓ life size.]

*Water Pennywort.* _Hydrocotyle Americana._

A close observation will show that this may be found in blossom in July, on moist, shady ground.

The weak-fibred, smooth, pale green stalk creeps over the ground, and takes root, occasionally, at the joints.

It has a pretty, round, heart-shaped leaf, doubly scalloped on the edge, and of a thin texture, with a smooth, shining surface; of a pale green color. The leaves are alternate, on foot-stems about an inch long.

The minute white flowers are set close in the angles of the leaves and are hardly noticeable.

The Pennywort grows gracefully amongst the grass in moist places. One would hardly suspect, at a casual glance, that this weak-fibred vine could belong to the same family with the mighty Cow Parsnip.

[Illustration: WATER PENNYWORT: Hydrocotyle Americana.]

*Field Parsnip.* _Pastinaca sativa._

Found in roadside thickets, along meadow walls and fences, during July and August.

The large, widely branching stalk reaches the height of 4 or 5 feet; it is 4-, or occasionally 5-angled, very tough and woody-fibred, noticeably grooved, and its surface is coarse; dull green.

The compound irregular leaf is large: the root-leaves are cut into 7 to 11 divisions, each part again cleft into 3 or 5 parts,--the upper leaves are less compound; the leaflets are long oval, broadest at the base, the margins closely notched, the texture thin, but coarse, the surface smooth, the underside of the upper leaves shining. The color is a dull dark green. The root-leaves are on long stems, while the upper leaves are on shorter stems which clasp the stalk with wing-like membranes; these are grooved, and large, their edges roll together, and meet and lap about the stalk. The leaves are placed alternately, at considerable intervals apart.

The tiny flowers are yellow, they spread flat, to show the undeveloped seed-boxes, and are set on thread foot-stems in small, flat-topped, round clusters; these, on long, up-curving stems, form a large spreading cluster, upon a stout stem; they are terminal and from the angles of the leaves; several of these large clusters occur on a plant.

“’Twill raise a blister, if you touch it when the dew’s on’t!” says the farmer’s son. It has a strongly acrid odor when broken, a thing which is well-nigh impossible to accomplish. The seeds, shining and very flat discs, add to the decorative qualities of this conspicuous plant.

[Illustration: FIELD PARSNIP: Pastinaca sativa.]

*Wild Carrot.* _Daucus Carota._ *Queen Ann’s Lace.*

Very common by the wayside and in dry fields, blossoming from July through September.

The round stalk, from 2 to 3 feet high, coarse in fibre, and roughened by short hairs, is light yellow-green in color.

The leaf has a very fringy effect, being much cut up into long narrow lobes; the surface is roughened; and the short foot-stem widens into a leafy, clasping sheath. The yellowish-green, alternate leaves are few, and far between.

The petal-like parts of the small clustered flowers are unequal in size and number,--three or four of the outer flowers in each cluster are larger than the rest; the color is white, with tiny yellow-tipped stamens. The flowers have pale green foot-stems, and grow in flat-topped clusters, each cluster being set around at the foot with a green leafy fringe. In the center of the cluster is often found a single dark purple flower.

Though the growth is sprangly, and the stem coarse, yet the flower is delicate with a lace-like quality. The seed-stems, curling inward, form a hollow, nest-like cup, from which characteristic it is often called the “Bird’s-nest plant.” It is deemed a great pest by farmers.

[Illustration: WILD CARROT: Daucus Carota.]

GINSENG FAMILY.

ARALIACEÆ.

*Wild Sarsaparilla.* _Aralia nudicaulis._

Found on moist hillsides, and along thickets, in May.

The root sends up one tall leaf-bearing stem, from 12 to 15 inches in height, and beside it a short flower-stem.

The leaf is compound, sometimes doubly so, its leaflets long, oval, and sharp-pointed at the tip, with noticeable ribs, finely notched margins, and, when young, a very glossy surface; the foot-stems are 3, and of equal length, forking from the summit of the round, hard-fibred, shining stem. The leaf, when young, is strongly bronze-tinted; as it matures this fades, and leaves it a pleasing light green color; the stem is reddish at the joints, and near the foot.

The greenish-white flower is very small, its 5 petals are turned down on the little calyx, and the 5 long stamens are erect and alternate with them. The flowers are set on foot-stems in 3 flat-topped clusters, that are borne on round stems forking from the top of the main flower-stem.

The bronzy hue of the leaves companions the unopened buds,--by the time the flower-clusters are fully abloom the dark shining color has changed to green, the leaflets have grown much larger, and spread like a canopy ever the blossoms.

[Illustration: WILD SARSAPARILLA: Aralia nudicaulis.]

*Spikenard.* _Aralia racemosa._ *Spignet (Vt.).*

Found along rich woods and wayside thickets, in blossom in August.

A widely branching plant, from 3 to 6 feet high, with a large, strong, round stem; dull gray-black, not unlike willow charcoal in appearance.

The very large compound leaf is divided into 3 clusters, each one of which has from 5 to 7 leaflets, on short, curved foot stems; the leaflets are broad, of an irregular oblong shape, with a finely notched margin, and a slightly downy surface. In color a strong full green; with dark stems.

The very small flower has its parts in fives, and is greenish white; the flowers are on pale foot-stems and arranged in little round clusters; many small clusters together form the large compound group on the ends of the branches, and from the angles of the upper leaves.

In September the plant ripens a small red berry, of a spicy, resinous taste, agreeable to a confirmed wayfarer. The large joints are fitted together with excellent workmanship. This striking plant, with its wide-spreading, vigorous leafage, and dark stems, possesses highly decorative qualities; it is cherished by country folk, however, for the medicinal use they find for the root which is “good for a cough.”

[Illustration: SPIKENARD: A. racemosa--½ life size.]

DOGWOOD FAMILY.

CORNACEÆ.

*Bunch-berry.* _Cornus Canadensis._ *Dwarf Cornel.*

Found in moist woods in May and June.

A small plant from 5 to 7 inches high, with a strong fibred, 4-angled, and deeply grooved, pale green stalk.

The broad oval leaf, tapering at both ends, has many deeply-marked ribs; it has a smooth surface, and is of a yellowish-green color. The leaves are set close on the stalk, in a whorl-like cluster of 4 or 6; occasionally a second group occurs below this.

The real flowers are small, and many; bunched together in a close, flat cluster, which is surrounded by 4 large, greenish-white, petal-like leaves, giving the semblance of a single large flower, rising, on a small foot-stem, above the leaves.

The seeds of this little plant take the form of a bunch of brilliant sealing-wax-red berries, set in the center of the greenery, and nodding on the stem with their own weight.

[Illustration: BUNCHBERRY: Cornus Canadensis.]

HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY.

CAPRIFOLIACEÆ.

*Smooth-leaved Honeysuckle.* _Lonicera glauca._

Found in rocky grounds and uplands during May.

A bushy, and somewhat twining shrub, leafy and tough, which grows from 3 to 5 feet high, with a gray bark, that is green when young.

The rather large leaf is oval, and broadest at the base, with a rounded tip, and an entire margin; the fibre is firm and the surface is smooth; in color it is green, silvery underneath. The leaves occur opposite each other, the upper ones growing completely together around the stalk, the lower being only partly united.

The small flower has a slender tubular corolla spreading into 2 unequal divisions, the upper broad, and 4-cleft, the lower entire, long, and narrow; in color a pale, dull tawny or red; the 5 long stamens, with their very distinct tips, are pale greenish-yellow; the long pistil is tipped with a green disc; the round calyx is minutely 5-parted, and green. The flowers, on the ends of the branches, are set close around the stalk in whorls, usually of 6, after the Honeysuckle habit.

What charm the flowers lack in fragrance, the plant makes up in the graceful curves of its partly twining stems, and in its attractive leafage.

[Illustration: SMOOTH-LEAVED HONEYSUCKLE: Lonicera glauca.]

*Maple-leaved Arrow-wood.* _Viburnum acerifolium._ *Dockmackie.*

Found in light, rocky woods, in May and June.

The tough, woody stalk, growing from 2 to 3 feet high, is branching, and covered with a smooth brown bark.

The broad, 3-lobed leaf much resembles a maple leaf in outline; it has, however, a soft downy surface, especially beneath,--the upper side is sometimes smooth. The leaves are set in pairs, on short foot-stems. Color green.

The small, 5-parted flower has 5 stamens, alternating with its rounded divisions. The flowers are white, and the buds pink-tinted; they grow in a flat-topped cluster, on a foot-stem springing from between the terminal pair of leaves.

In the softly diffused light of the autumn woods, its clusters of black berries, and mulberry colored leafage prove attractive to the æsthetic eye. Its habit of growth also is pleasing.

[Illustration: MAPLE-LEAVED ARROW-WOOD: Viburnum acerifolium.]

*Linnæa.* _Linnæa borealis._ *Twin-flower.*

Found in cool, mossy woods, and cold damp bogs; blossoming in early June.

A trailing vine with a round, rough, and woody-fibred, reddish stem, running over the ground.

The pretty, rounding leaf has a few scallops on its edge, a slightly rough surface, and a dry texture; it is evergreen, of a rich, dark green color. The leaves are in pairs, on short foot-stems.

The little bell-shaped corolla is about ½ an inch long, narrowing into a small tube at the bottom, and widening at the top where it is 5-parted; it is fine in texture, fragrant, and in color white, tinged with pink. The tiny green calyx has 5 thread-like divisions. The slender flower-stems, rising erect from the creeping stalk to a height of 3 or 4 inches, fork near the top to bear the nodding twin flowers.

[Illustration: LINNÆA: Linnæa borealis.]

*Bush Honeysuckle.* _Diervilla trifida._

Found in light woods, and rocky uplands, in blossom during June and July.

A shrub, with round, woody-fibred, smooth stems; the old growth is of a light gray color, while the new shoots are green, and dull red.

The oval leaf, wide at the bottom, is very tapering at the tip; the closely and finely toothed edges are more or less ruffled; the surface is smooth, and the texture like silk; the color is a strong, warm green, often showing traces of red on the margin, and in the midrib. The leaves are in pairs, on short, stout, and partly clasping foot-stems.

The corolla of the small flower has a tube about ½ of an inch long, spreading at the top, and parted into 5 irregular recurving divisions, of a pale yellow color, marked with dull tawny-orange; the five long stamens are yellow, and the flat, disc-like tip of the pistil is green; the slender, pale green calyx is vase-shape, with 5 thread-like divisions. A few flowers grow from the end of the branches, and from the angles of the upper leaves.

This Honeysuckle has a vigorous leafage, and is full of strong curves, but it lacks the spicy fragrance associated with its name. On some plants the leaves are all opposite at the same angle, while on others the alternate pairs are set on at right angles to each other.

[Illustration: BUSH HONEYSUCKLE: Diervilla trifida.]

*Elder-flower.* _Sambucus Canadensis._

Found along meadow hedgerows, blossoming in June and July.

A bush, from 5 to 10 feet high; it is woody, and branching, with a white pith, and gray bark.

The large compound leaf has from 8 to 10 pairs of leaflets, with an odd one at the end; the taper-pointed leaflet has a notched margin, a smooth surface, and a rather thin texture; the color is a full green, lighter beneath.

The small 5-parted flower has 5 stamens and 1 pistil, and a minute calyx; it is cream-white, and grows in wide, spreading, flat-topped clusters, on the ends of the branches.

The round, reddish-black berries ripen in August and September; they were used by our foremothers to make a spicy wine. In the wild hedgerow the big creamy clusters are most effective, but when picked the little flower-wheels soon scatter.

[Illustration: ELDER-FLOWER: Sambucus Canadensis.]

*Snowberry.* _Symphoricarpos racemosus._

Found in blossom from June to September.

A shrub about 3 or 4 feet high, with a woody, branching stem, covered with a smooth bark; that of the old growth gray-brown in color, of the new growth, golden-brown.

The broadly oval leaf has an entire, somewhat wavy, margin, a smooth surface, and dry texture. It is in color a dark grayish-green, lighter beneath. The leaves grow in pairs, on short stems.

The small bell-shaped flower is 5-tipped, and filled within with white woolly hairs; it is rose-colored, running into white. The corolla sits on top of the little, round, green calyx, which develops into a large, juicy, waxen white berry. The flowers and berries grow in a close terminal spike, gradually weighed down by the enlarging berries.

Both berries and blossoms occur on the same spike. The Snowberry was largely cultivated by our foremothers in their house yards, and is still common about old houses.

[Illustration: SNOWBERRY: Symphoricarpos racemosus.]

MADDER FAMILY.

RUBIACEÆ.

*Innocence.* _Houstonia cærulea._ *Quaker Ladies.* *Bluets.*

Found in grassy meadows, pastures, and waysides during May; generally in poor soil.

The slender, little, pale green flower-stems, from 2 to 6 inches in height, sometimes branch, bear but few leaves, and rise from a foot-tuffet of leaves.

These foot-leaves are very small, with little rounded tips, while the stem-leaves are still smaller, long, narrow, and clasping in pairs. They are entire, thin, and light green.

The flower has a tiny 4-parted, green calyx, and a tubular corolla which spreads at the top into a 4-pointed star; very delicate in texture, and varying from pure white to a deep china blue, with a dainty ring of yellow in the center.

A very communistic plant is the Innocence, growing in great patches along pasture fences and in meadow rifts and hollows, powdering the greening slopes of early May with its many blossoms like a belated spring snow-fall. Its buds droop, but the opened flowers lift up their faces to reflect the sky; its calices hug the corollas, and after they have fallen still guard the enlarged oval seed-boxes. It is not unusual to find 3- or 5-pointed stars, and even 6- or 7-pointed variations are occasionally discoverable. Tufts of seedlings found in the late autumn will flower all winter, if well-potted and watered and given plenty of fresh air.

[Illustration: INNOCENCE: Houstonia cærulea.]

*Partridge-berry.* _Mitchella repens._ *Twin-berry.* *Fox-berry.* *Box-berry.* *Two-eye-berry.*

Found in June, in dry woods, about the roots of pine trees.

This little running vine, 4 to 10 inches in length, is smooth and slender, leafy and occasionally branching. In color, a pale green or dark bronze-green.

The leaf is small, round-oval, widest at the base, thin but tough of texture, with a smooth surface that shines when new-grown; the margin is entire, and the midrib important. The young leaves are a bright cool green, lighter underneath; the older growths become dark and bluish green, the ribs and veins marking them with a light tracery. The leaves, on short stems, are arranged in pairs.

The corolla, in the shape of a slender tube spreading into 4 points, is covered thickly in the inside with cottony down, while the outside is smooth; the color is creamy-white, the outside delicately tinted creamy-pink. The little green calyx is 4-parted. The flowers bloom in pairs, their seed-boxes united and set on a single stem, placed terminally. The buds are pink.

Two kinds of flowers are borne on this plant, in one the 4 stamens protrude from the tube and the pistil does not show, in the other the 2-parted pistil is very noticeable and the stamens are retired. The delicious fragrance of the blossoms perfumes the whole woods where it grows. The small oval berry with its two openings is loved by children, because it is of a light coral-red color, and edible, though rather tasteless.

[Illustration: PARTRIDGE-BERRY: Mitchella repens.]

*Button-bush.* _Cephalanthus occidentalis._

Found on low, moist ground, and along borders of ponds, in June and July.

A shrub from 3 to 5 feet high, with a stout, woody stem, covered with a smooth reddish-brown bark.

The leaf, tapering at both ends, is 3 or 4 inches long, on a short foot-stem; the surface is usually smooth, and the texture tough; of a strong green color.

The small, tubular flower is 4-parted at the top, and of a dull, white color. Many flowers are set together in a dense, round head, with the pistils radiating in all directions. These sweet-scented flower-balls grow on foot-stems, 2 or 3 inches long, in clusters of 3 to 5 or 7, from the ends of the branches.

The Button-balls ripen in October, and are then noticeable among the plentiful pods and berries of the season. They are dull red and green in color, turning to a fine brown with the touch of frost. Picked early in the season they make a pleasing addition to the pod-gatherer’s winter collection.

[Illustration: BUTTON-BUSH: Cephalanthus occidentalis.]

*Small Bedstraw.* _Galium asprellum._ *Cleavers.*

Found in blossom through August and September, in moist or swampy tangles and thickets.

The stalk is branching, but very weak-fibred, leaning on sturdier plants for support, or lopping over; it is square, and closely set along the angles with many minute downward-pointing prickles, by means of which it clings or “cleaves” to its neighbors; color, a light green.

The small leaf is rounded at the tip, has an entire margin, and a smooth upper surface; beneath, the edges and midrib are set with prickles. The leaves grow in whorls of 4 or 6, close upon the stalk, at regular intervals. The color is a pretty yellow-green.