Edith S. Clements

“ The Alpine Buttercup has bright yellow, cup-like flowers that fit our ideas of a buttercup much better than do those of the Trailing Buttercup described below. It is more rarely found, since it grows only on alpine peaks at 10000-14000 ft. It prefers wet places among the rocks and near snow-banks and blooms in midsummer. Many species of buttercup possess a more or less acrid juice. For this reason, they are little eaten by cattle and hence the notion that the deep color of butter in early spring is due to the buttercup is, of course, without foundation. ”

“ The brilliant red color of the Indian Paintbrush is furnished mainly by the upper leaves. The corollas are enfolded in the brightly colored bracts, which, clustered together at the end of the stem, give the effect of a gorgeous blossom. The plants are partial parasites and obtain their food ready-made from their neighbors. They grow 1-3 ft. tall and occur in foothills, mountains and forests at 6000-11000 ft. The flowers bloom all summer. ”

“ Alfalfa Medicago sativa Plate 28, fig. 2
The small blue to purple blossoms of Alfalfa grow in loose, small heads on branching plants that attain a height of 1-2 ft. They bloom all summer long. The plant has escaped from cultivation and grows thriftily at 5000-6000 ft. Alfalfa forms a most nourishing fodder for horses and cattle and has been cultivated for ages in Southern Europe. When sown in deep, rich soils, few plants yield so heavy a crop. During the World War, meal was made from the dried and ground plants and used as a substitute for flour. ”

“ The crimson blossoms of the Poppy Mallow are abundant on prairies and plains at 3000-6000 ft. They bloom in early summer and midsummer and usually make deep masses of color among the grasses. Their beauty amply warrants introduction into home gardens. ”

“ In seeking nectar, the bees crawl over the group of stamens and stigmas and in so doing either collect or deposit the pollen which clings to their legs and abdomens. The Monkshood is frequently cultivated in gardens and some of the species furnish a powerful drug, aconite, used in medicine. ”

“ The plants are widely distributed on plains, foothills and open places in the mountains at 6000-10000 ft. and they bloom throughout the summer. The humming-bird is a regular visitor of this flower for the sake of its nectar. ”

“ Pollination is effected by long-nosed bees which cling to the petals while inserting the proboscis up the spur and at the same time touch the group of pendant stamens with the underside of 2 the body. Short-nosed bees are unable to get at the nectar in this way and steal the honey by biting holes in the tips of the spurs. ”

“ The common sunflower is cultivated for the sake of the honey and wax which are obtained from the flowers by the bees, and also for its seeds which are used in various ways. They furnish feed for domestic and farm animals, or are ground and made into cakes, or roasted and used as coffee. ”

“ The Fireweed, as the name indicates, is found on burnt areas especially, though it also occurs in meadows and open woods and copses. The flowers are pale pink to deep rose-purple and bloom all summer long. The plants are widely distributed over the continent up to 10000 ft. and grow as tall as 5 ft. ”

“ This blistering action is so decided that the juice is said to be used to brand cattle in some parts of the West, as the scar heals more rapidly than one made by the branding iron. Honey made from the flowers is also poisonous, but since it is hot and disagreeable to the taste, it is not apt to be eaten. ”

“ The leaves are gray from the white woolly hairs covering them, and grow in clusters at the base of the flowering stems. These clusters usually form dense mats, the leaves of which are sometimes chewed by children as Indian Tobacco or Ladies’ Tobacco. ”

“ After acquiring a taste for the plant they will eat nothing else and die from the effects in a few months or one or two years. In this way, millions of dollars of stock are lost annually. A cure for the disease has been found recently. ”