Colic-root. Star-grass.
Aletris farinosa. Bloodwort Family.
Leaves.—Thin, lance-shaped, in a spreading cluster from the root. Scape.—Slender, two to three feet high. Flowers.—White, small, growing in a wand-like, spiked raceme. Perianth.—Six-cleft at the summit, oblong-tubular. Stamens.—Six. Pistil.—One, with style three-cleft at apex.
In summer we find these flowers in the grassy woods. The generic title is the Greek word for “a female slave who grinds corn,” and refers to the mealy appearance of the blossoms.
Tall Meadow Rue.
Thalictrum polygamum. Crowfoot Family.
Four to eight feet high. Leaves.—Divided into many firm, rounded leaflets. Flowers.—White, in large clusters; some perfect, others unisexual. Calyx.—Of four or five small petal-like sepals which usually fall off very early. Corolla.—None. Stamens.—Numerous. Pistils.—Four to fifteen.
Where a stream trails its sluggish length through the fields of midsummer, its way is oftentimes marked by the tall meadow rue, the feathery, graceful flower-clusters of which erect themselves serenely above the myriad blossoms which are making radiant the wet meadows at this season. For here, too, we may search for the purple flag and fringed orchis, the yellow meadow lily, the pink swamp milkweed, each charming in its way, but none with the cool chaste beauty of the meadow rue. The staminate flowers of this plant are especially delicate and feathery.
White Avens.
Geum album. Rose Family.
Stem.—Slender, about two feet high. Root-leaves.—Divided into from three to five leaflets, or entire. Stem-leaves.—Three-lobed or divided, or only toothed. Flowers.—White. Calyx.—Deeply five-cleft, usually with five small bractlets alternating with its lobes. Corolla.—Of five petals. Stamens.—Numerous. Pistils.—Numerous, with hooked styles which become elongated in fruit.
The white avens is one of the less noticeable plants which border the summer woods, blossoming from May till August. Later the hooked seeds which grow in round burr-like heads secure wide dispersion by attaching themselves to animals or clothing. Other species of avens have more conspicuous golden-yellow flowers.
