VI | Wild Flowers and Flowerless Plants
The beauty and inspiration of wild flowers, which lovers of Nature constantly bring to our attention, should by no means, be passed by. There are few, indeed, whose joy in living is not more than a little deepened by contact with the woods and meadows, perfumed with the scent of wild-growing flowers and blossoms, and made beautiful to the eye by a riot of colors both soothing and delightful. They are to be found under forest trees, in bushes and hedges, amidst grasses in meadows, on highways and declivities, and on rubbish heaps and in water; they crowd together, as though unwilling to be hidden from view.
Among the leading representatives of these plants, grouped according to the localities in which they are found, are sure to be the following.
Flowers That Grow in the Woods
A prime favorite among the flowers of spring is the Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens), a trailing plant of the Heath family, with branches six to fifteen feet long and evergreen leaves, called Mayflower in New England and Ground Laurel in the Southern States. It grows in sandy or rocky soils, especially in the shade of evergreen trees, from Canada to Texas. It is prized for its early blooming, and delicate flowers, now gathered in considerable quantities for city flower markets. In the early spring also the Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) delights us with its violet and blue flowers; as does also the Liverwort (Hepatica triloba), the three-lobed leaves of which live through the winter. That familiar little favorite, the sweet-scented Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis), raises its tender string of blooms surrounded by two large leaves in May. This is followed by the sweet-scented Woodruff (Asperula odorata). In some districts the fresh leaves of the woodruff are used for making May wine; when dried they emit an agreeable scent, and are therefore frequently laid in wardrobes. Its leaves are stellate, and its small blossoms are arranged in umbels. It grows from nine to twelve inches high. Other plants found in the woods are the Forget-me-not (Myosotis silvatica), and the Centaury (Erythræa Centaurium). The rose-red blossoms of the latter are arranged in clusters, and its leaves have medicinal properties. Late in the year towards autumn the common Ling or heather (Calluna vulgaris) opens its red blooms. The leaves are small, and arranged in four rows along the stem. The young heather contains a rich honey, and is consequently much sought after by all kinds of insects.
Wild Flowers Among the Hedges and Bushes
In March and April, in concealed spots, the sweet-scented Violet blows (Viola odorata), filling the air with its sweet fragrance every morning. The Anemone (Anemone nemerosa) raises its white flower, tinged with red, from the midst of three large green leaves. The Wood-sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), sends out from its root graceful trifoliate leaves and white blooms traversed by violet veins. In the hedges and bushes, also, we meet with the Arum (Arum maculatum), the common wake-robin or lords and ladies. On closely observing this plant, we shall find rather deep in the earth a tuberous root as large as a walnut, from which spring three or four long-stalked, bright leaves. Between the leaves a smooth stem arises six to nine inches high, which bears at its upper end the blossoms, surrounded by a greenish sheath. The arum has acrid properties, but its corm yields Portland sago or arrowroot. In the vicinity of this plant we also find the Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), the root of which possesses healing properties. It contains an oil, which is used as a remedy for cramp.
The Flowers of the Open Meadows
The uniform green which covers the meadows all the year round is agreeably relieved by a large [158] number of plants with colored flowers. Here blooms the sky-blue Gentian (Gentiana verna), which delights both the eye and the heart. There the beautiful blue bells of the Campanula (Campanula Rapunculus) raise their heads, together with the violet flowers of the Scabious (Scabiosa pratensis), and the numerous bloom-whorls of the meadow Sage (Salvia pratensis). Between these can be seen the red and white heads of the meadow and white Clover (Trifolia pratensis and T. repens); and from a distance we can recognize the small Daisy (Bellis perennis), the similar but larger Dog Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum), the yellow Meadow Sweet (Tragopogon pratensis), and the Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). In these the fructification is carried out by insects; but, as the single flowers are so small that they would be overlooked by the insects, Nature has arranged many of them in the form of a small chalice or cup, which can be seen from afar, especially in those cases where the radiating petals are different in color from the sepals, like those in the dog daisies. Many meadow plants grow with their stalks and blooms high over their neighbors, as though they were the lords of the meadows.
In these the flowers are very small; but as they are united in large numbers in flat umbals, they show up well. On the dry ridges blooms the Plantain (Plantago), which has good healing properties; and the wild Thyme (Thymus Serpylum), a graceful plant, which is sometimes made into tea, and is frequently placed in children’s baths. The shape of its blooms shows it to be a member of the family of the labiate flowers, to which belongs also the meadow sage.
Flowers of the Wooded Pastures
Another large natural family of plants, the milkworts, have a pretty representative in the meadows in the Cuckoo-flower (Cardamine pratensis). Its leaves are pennate, and the lilac-colored flowers contain four large and two short stamens; the fruit is a pod. Upon woody pastures we also often find the Orchis (Orchis Morio). From the two oval tubers a stem arises enclosed in sheath-like leaves. At the top of the stem are the curiously formed flowers, which are fructified by insects in a very peculiar and striking manner. The somewhat unattractive Sour-Sorrel (Rumex Acetosa), Fig. 13, is well known, and its soft stem and juicy leaves are sometimes eaten by children. The leaves are arrow-shaped; the small flowers are reddish in color.
Wild Flowers on Highways and Waste Land
Here we meet, besides old acquaintances from the meadows, the Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) and the Chickweed (Stellaria media), both valued as birds’ food, and common everywhere; the Shepard’s Pouch (Capsella Bursa pastoris), easily recognized by its almost three-cornered little pods, and blooming, like the groundsel, nearly all the year round; the white, spotted, and purple Blind-Nettles (Lamium album, L. maculatum, and L. purpureum), and the Origanum (Origanum vulgare), are labiate flowers, which are diligently visited by insects for their honey. Here, too, are the bristly, blue-flowered Adder-Wort (Echium vulgare); the round-leaved Mallow (Malva rotundifolia); the Burdock (Lappa major), the blossoms of which cling to the clothes so readily; the common Nettles (Urtica); and the Tansy.
Flowers in Cultivated Fields
Several plants grow amid the corn which are really ornamental with their bright flowers. A very pretty example is the larkspur (Delphinium Consolida), a small graceful little plant, with numerous blue spur-like flowers. Near the latter we also find the blue Cornflower (Centaurea Cyanus), which is so frequently plucked by children and woven into wreaths.
The Camomile (Matricaria Chamomilla), is recognized by its strong odor. It has a small chalice with white petals, and is an important medicinal plant. The Corn-cockle (Agrostemma Githago) and the red Poppy (Papaver Rhœas) are also seen; and at the time when the wind sweeps over the field of stubble the latter is adorned with the wild Pansy (Viola tricolor), the leaves and flowers of which have healing properties, and are collected for medicinal uses.
The Great Groups of Cryptogams or Flowerless Plants
The Cryptogams are plants without true, or without visible flowers; to these belong the shave grasses, the ferns, the mosses, the algæ, the lichens, and the fungi.
The Horse-tail (Equisetum arvense), frequently grows in damp, sandy fields. The spring stem of the plant is simple and reddish in color, and bears fruit called spores in an upright ear.
The Wall Rue (Asplenium Ruta muraria), belongs to the family of ferns. It grows everywhere on walls, and has a short root, three-cornered leaves, and along both sides of the middle ribs of the leaves the fruit lies in rows.
The Common Fern (Polypodium vulgare), grows on walls and rocks. It has a creeping stem, and beautiful serrated leaves, bearing on their underside the somewhat large fruit glands which contain the spores. Other familiar ferns are the Worm Fern (Aspidium Filix mas), and the Eagle Fern (Pteris Aquilina), from three to five feet high.
The Common Hair Moss (Polytrichum commune), grows in all the woods and in wet fields. The stem is upright; the small leaves are pointed and serrated at their edges. The spores develop in a quadrangular sheath, which is surrounded by a cell. The mosses play an important part in the economy of Nature; they retain in the woods a quantity of the water which falls as rain, and thus preserve the lands from being flooded, store up moisture for the plants, and also influence the climatic conditions of a country. The so-called Peat-moss (Sphagnum) enters largely into the composition of peat.
The Reindeer Moss (Cladonia rangiferina), is a much-branched little plant of a greyish color. The small fruit corpuscles are at the ends of the branches. The reindeer moss is common in the pine woods of northern Europe.
The Toad’s-stool (Agricus muscarius), grows in the woods in autumn. The blood-red cap has numerous white excrescences on its surface. It is very poisonous and ill-smelling, and has a bitter taste. It is often used as a poison for flies, but is also dangerous to men and animals.
The Mushroom (Agricus campestris), is common from May to October in fields, gardens, and meadows. It has lately also been cultivated in cellars and greenhouses. It is a favorite article of food, and one of the most useful of the edible fungi.
CAMPHOR TREE (Cinnamomum camphora), one of the most beautiful of all trees, grows in China and Japan, more especially in the island of Formosa. It has also been planted in Ceylon and Florida. The wood of the tree is valued by the cabinet maker, but its chief value is in the solid, essential oil, called gum camphor, extracted from it by a process of distillation. When pure, camphor is a white, soft semi-transparent body, with a peculiarly strong aromatic odor, and a bitter, burning taste. It is used extensively in making celluloid and smokeless powder, in medicine and as a protection against insects. Nine-tenths of the world’s supply of raw material is exported from Formosa. Its production is a monopoly of the Japanese government.