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!
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.