garden. It is a striking plant, 3-6 ft. tall and bears many large
flower-heads with long, spreading or drooping yellow rays. They bloom in
midsummer and are found in meadows and along brook-banks in aspen and
fir forests at 5000-8000 ft.
Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
Plate 39, fig. 4
Black-eyed Susan, unlike its near relative Golden Glow, has a
reddish-brown, almost black, center and orange-yellow rays. It is
cultivated also, but occurs naturally in meadows and bogs and along
brook-banks at 5000-11000 ft. The plants are 1-4 ft. tall and bloom all
summer.
Rayless Thelesperma Thelesperma gracile
Plate 39, fig. 3
As the name indicates, the Rayless Thelesperma has heads of fertile
flowers only, ray-flowers being lacking. The heads are grouped in
graceful clusters on slender stems, 2-4 ft. tall, and bloom all summer.
The plants occur on prairies and plains at 3000-8000 ft.
Rayed Thelesperma Thelesperma trifidum
Plate 39, fig. 8
The Rayed Thelesperma, in contrast to the one above, has broad yellow
ray-flowers around a yellow center. It is a relative of Coreopsis and
should also be cultivated in home gardens. The plants are 1-3 ft. tall
and are found along roadsides and in pastures and fields at 3000-7000
ft., blooming all summer.
[Illustration: Plate 39
ASTER FAMILY
1, 6 Cone Flower: Ratibida columnaris
2 Golden Glow: Rudbeckia laciniata
3 Rayless Thelesperma: Thelesperma gracile
4 Black-eyed Susan: Rudbeckia hirta
5 Sun Spots: Gymnolomia multiflora
7 Sunflower: Helianthus petiolaris
8 Rayed Thelesperma: Thelesperma trifidum]
Sun Spots Gymnolomia multiflora
Plate 39, fig. 5
The heads of Sun Spots are yellow throughout and bloom all summer. The
plants are 2-5 ft. tall and grow on prairies and foothills at 5000-7000
ft.
Sunflower Helianthus petiolaris
Plate 39, fig. 7
One scarcely needs an introduction to the cheery Sunflower which
overruns roadsides and fallow fields everywhere at 3000-8000 ft. The
plants are 2-5 ft. tall and bear flowers all summer. This species is the
western form of the common sunflower, _Helianthus annuus_. The latter
was held in high veneration by the ancient Peruvians and Mexicans, being
used by them as a sacred and artistic emblem. It also figures in Greek
mythology. The farmer of today, however, regards it quite otherwise when
it invades his cultivated fields. It is, nevertheless, the state flower
of Kansas. The name Sunflower was given this plant under the impression
that the heads turn their faces always towards the sun and follow it in
its daily course. This is not the case, however, for though the heads of
a field of sunflowers are usually turned in the same direction, this is
due to the effect of the prevailing wind rather than to sunlight.
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. In Russia they are sold in the streets and eaten as nuts. An oil
also is obtained from them that is said to be equal to olive oil.
[Illustration: Plate 40
ASTER FAMILY
1 Bur Marigold: Bidens levis
2 Mountain Arnica: Arnica cordifolia
3 Gaillardia: Gaillardia aristata
4 Butterweed: Senecio Fendleri
5 Goldweed: Ximenesia encelioides
6 Actinella: Actinella Richardsonii
7 Dwarf Sunflower: Helianthella Parryi]
Bur Marigold Bidens levis
Plate 40, fig. 1
The bright yellow heads of the Bur Marigold may be found blooming all
summer in marshes and ditches at 3000-6000 ft. The plants are 1-4 ft.
tall. The names, both common and botanical, refer to the tooth-like
spines on the end of the seed-like fruits.
Mountain Arnica Arnica cordifolia
Plate 40, fig. 2
This native Arnica is a close relative of _Arnica montana_, which
furnishes the well-known tincture that is applied to bruises and
sprains. It has been employed as a stimulant in low fevers, but does not
appear to have any value when used internally. The Mountain Arnica
occurs in fir, spruce and aspen forests at 7000-12000 ft. The heads are
yellow-centered and yellow-rayed, and bloom all summer on plants 1-2 ft.
high.
Gaillardia Gaillardia aristata
Plate 40, fig. 3
Gaillardia bears very large heads with reddish-brown centers and many
yellow or orange rays. They bloom all summer. The plants grow 1-3 ft.
tall and may be found on prairies, and in meadows and aspen woodlands at
7000-10000 ft. The Gaillardias are frequently cultivated in gardens.
Butterweed Senecio Fendleri
Plate 40, fig. 4
The yellow heads of the Butterweed are quite small but are grouped in
large clusters on stems 6 in.-2 ft. tall. They bloom in midsummer and
are found on foothills and gravel-slides at 7000-10000 ft.
Goldweed Ximenesia encelioides
Plate 40, fig. 5
The heads of the Goldweed have yellow centers and yellow, toothed rays,
and they bloom all summer. The plants are 2-5 ft. tall, growing along
roadsides and in fallow fields at 3000-7000 ft.
Actinella Actinella Richardsonii
Plate 40, fig. 6
The yellow heads of Actinella are small and grouped in open clusters on
stems 6 in.-2 ft. tall. They bloom in early and midsummer and are found
on plains and foothills at 5000-8000 ft. This species of Actinella is
sometimes called the “Colorado Rubber Plant,” but it does not produce
rubber in sufficient quantities to be commercially valuable.
Dwarf Sunflower Helianthella Parryi
Plate 40, fig. 7
The heads of the Dwarf Sunflower are entirely yellow. They are borne on
slender stems 1-3 ft. tall and bloom in midsummer. They may be found in
spruce and aspen forests at 7000-10000 ft.
Bahia Bahia dissecta
Plate 41, fig. 1
The heads of Bahia have large yellow centers and very short yellow rays.
They grow on branching stems 1-4 ft. high and bloom in midsummer. The
plants may be found on foothills and gravel-slides at 5000-9000 ft.
Actinella Actinella acaulis
Plate 41, fig. 2
Actinella, like Bahia, has large yellow centers and short yellow rays.
The plants are unbranched and grow 6-18 in. tall. They bear flowers in
early summer and occur on prairies, plains and foothills at 3000-8000
ft.
Sneezeweed Helenium Hoopesii
Plate 41, fig. 3
The heads of the Sneezeweed are large and orange-yellow. They grow on
stiff stems 2-6 ft. tall and bloom all summer. The plants are found in
spruce forests, aspen woodlands and subalpine meadows at 9000-12000 ft.
They are poisonous to stock. The common name has reference to the effect
that the strong odor of the flowers have on some people.
Cream Tips Hymenopappus tenuifolius
Plate 41, fig. 4
The yellow heads of the Cream Tips are without ray-flowers. They grow on
slender stems 1-4 ft. tall and bloom in spring and midsummer. The plants
have very finely cut leaves and are found on prairies, plains and
foothills at 3000-7000 ft.
Taper Leaf Pericome caudata
Plate 41, fig. 5
The Taper Leaf is a bushy ornamental plant covered in midsummer and
autumn with open clusters of fragment yellow flower-heads. The tips of
the leaves are narrowed to a long, slender point and this character is
expressed in both the botanical and common names. The bushes grow 3-6
ft. high, and 3-8 ft. wide and occur on foothills and gravel-slides at
6000-8000 ft.
Marigold Dysodia papposa
Plate 41, fig. 6
The wild Marigold looks like a tiny form of the garden Marigold and has
a similar spicy fragrance. It grows 1 in.-l ft. tall and is abundant
along roadsides and in fallow fields and pastures at 3000-8000 ft.
[Illustration: Plate 41
ASTER FAMILY
1 Bahia: Bahia dissecta
2 Actinella: Actinella acaulis
3 Sneezeweed: Helenium Hoopesii
4 Cream Tips: Hymenopappus tenuifolius
5 Taper Leaf: Pericome caudata
6 Marigold: Dysodia papposa
7 Alpine Kobold: Rydbergia grandiflora]
Alpine Kobold Rydbergia grandiflora
Plate 41, fig. 7
This shaggy, gray-green little plant with its huge, hanging yellow head,
often as broad as the stem is tall, is weirdly suggestive of fairy-folk.
The stems grow 2-15 in. tall and bear flowers in midsummer. They are to
be found only in alpine meadows at 10000-14000 ft.
LILY FAMILY
Wild Onion Allium cernuum
Plate 42, fig. 1
The Wild Onion bears open clusters of rose-purple flowers that droop in
the bud, but rise gradually as they bloom, until the fruits are erect.
They blossom in midsummer and are found in foothills, meadows, and aspen
and spruce woods at 5000-10000 ft. The plants grow 1-2 ft. tall, and the
bruised foliage and bulbs have the characteristic onion odor. The genus
is widely cultivated and furnishes several varieties of onion, chives,
leek, garlic and shallot.
Spring Lily Erythronium parviflorum
Plate 42, fig. 3
The yellow flower of the Spring Lily droops from a slender stem, 6-15
in. tall and blooms in the spring. The plant consists merely of two
broad but pointed leaves, besides the flowering-stalk, and is found in
meadows and spruce woods at 8000-12000 ft. It certainly deserves a place
among cultivated plants.
Red Lily Lilium philadelphicum
Plate 42, fig. 4
The scarlet petals of the Red Lily are ornamented at their bases with
dark reddish-brown spots that serve to direct visiting insects to the
honey. The blossoms are large and conspicuous and occur singly at the
tips of stiff stems, 2-4 ft. tall. They come into bloom in early summer
and midsummer, and are found in bogs and along brook-banks at 7000-11000
ft. The Red Lily is very like the Tiger Lily of the garden and should be
given a place there also, though it is not as yet widely cultivated.
[Illustration: Plate 42
LILY FAMILY
1 Wild Onion: Allium cernuum
3 Spring Lily: Erythronium parviflorum
4 Red Lily: Lilium philadelphicum
5 Wand Lily: Zygadenus elegans
6 Mariposa Lily: Calochortus Gunnisonii
SPIDERWORT FAMILY
2 Spider Lily: Tradescantia virginiana]
Wand Lily Zygadenus elegans
Plate 42, fig. 5
The cream-colored blossoms of the Wand Lily are grouped in open spikes
on straight slender stems 4 in.-2-1/2 ft. tall. They bloom in midsummer
in meadows and spruce and aspen woods at 7000-12000 ft. The Wand Lily is
related to the poisonous Death Camas, and is probably poisonous also.
Mariposa Lily Calochortus Gunnisonii
Plate 42, fig. 6
This Mariposa Lily is usually white, though delicate lilac blossoms are
sometimes found. The petals are ornamented with various markings which
give point to the common name of the genus which means “butterfly.” The
plants grow 1-4 ft. tall in foothills, meadows and aspen forests at
4000-11000 ft. and bear flowers all summer long. The genus is widely
distributed and contains many beautiful species and varieties of
striking colors, which should be more generally cultivated.
SPIDERWORT FAMILY
Spider Lily Tradescantia virginiana
Plate 42, fig. 2
The pink or blue-purple flowers of the Spider Lily open in the morning
and wither soon afterwards. They are grouped in open clusters on stiff
stems with long, grass-like leaves, and bloom from spring to midsummer.
The plants grow in clumps, 1-5 ft. tall, on prairies and foot-hills at
3000-7000 ft. The common name refers to the cobwebby hairs on the
stamens. The Spider Lily should certainly be cultivated in home gardens.
IRIS FAMILY
Blue-eyed Grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Plate 43, fig. 1
The Blue-eyed Grass is not a grass at all, but is so called on account
of the grass-like leaves. The blue-purple, starry blossoms grow in loose
clusters on stiff stems, and bloom from spring to midsummer. They remain
open but a few hours in the morning withering as the day advances. The
plants are 6-18 in. tall and are found on prairies, and foothills and in
mountain meadows at 3000-10000 ft.
Iris, Blue Flag Iris missouriensis
Plate 43, fig. 5
The large, pale blue to purple blossoms of the Iris bloom in spring and
summer, on brook-banks and in meadows at 3000-10000 ft. The plants grow
in masses, 1-3 ft. tall, and sometimes carpet the floor of a mountain
meadow. The botanical name for the Blue Flag is from the Greek for
“rainbow” and refers to the many colors of the different species and
varieties. These are cultivated and furnish some of our most beautiful
garden plants. The earliest illustration of the Iris was made about the
beginning of the sixth century A.D. in a work by Dioscorides. In this
work, it was considered valuable as a source of drugs rather than as a
garden plant, and the number of ailments for which iris preparations
were prescribed is truly astonishing. At present, however, its medicinal
value consists merely of an extract from the root, which is used as an
emetic and cathartic. The seeds of some species are sometimes roasted
and used in Great Britain as a substitute for coffee. The orris root of
commerce is supplied by Iris florentina which has a fragrant root. The
Iris is the Fleur-de-lis of France, which was for long the royal emblem.
ORCHID FAMILY
Coral Root Corallorhiza multiflora
Plate 43, fig. 2
The Coral Root receives its name from the white branching roots that
resemble coral. The plant is a saprophyte, that is, it gets its food
ready-made from decaying matter, and this accounts for the lack of green
foliage. The plants are entirely reddish-purple, though the
flower-petals are white with purple dots. They grow 6 in.-1 ft. tall, in
spruce and fir woods at 7000-10000 ft. and bloom all summer.
Yellow Ladies’ Slipper Cypripedium pubescens
Plate 43, fig. 3
The botanical name for the Ladies’ Slipper comes from the Greek for
“sock” or “buskin,” so that the fanciful resemblance of the flower to
dainty footwear is indicated by both names. Though the sack-like lower
petal of Yellow Ladies’ Slipper is a bright yellow, the other two petals
and the sepals are yellow-green with reddish markings. The flowers occur
singly on stems 8-20 in. tall, and bloom in early summer. They are found
in meadows and aspen woodlands at 6000-9000 ft.
Rattlesnake Plantain Peramium repens
Plate 43, fig. 4
The Rattlesnake Plantain receives this name because of its peculiarly
mottled leaves which resemble those of a plantain in shape, but which
have markings very like those of a snake. The tiny white blossoms occur
in crowded spikes on stems 2-8 in. tall and bloom in midsummer. The
plants grow in fir and spruce woods at 9000-10000 ft.
[Illustration: Plate 43
IRIS FAMILY
1 Blue-eyed Grass: Sisyrinchium angustifolium
5 Iris, Blue Flag: Iris missouriensis
ORCHID FAMILY
2 Coral Root: Corallorhiza multiflora
3 Yellow Ladies’ Slipper: Cypripedium pubescens
4 Rattlesnake Plantain: Peramium repens
6 Fairy Slipper, Calypso: Calypso borealis]
Fairy Slipper, Calypso Calypso borealis
Plate 43, fig. 6
The fairy-like rose-purple blossoms of Calypso appear in early spring.
They occur singly on stems 4-8 in. tall, in fir and spruce woods at
7000-10000 ft. The name “Calypso” is that of a nymph of Grecian legend,
and seems well fitted to this dainty plant.
Transcriber’s Notes
--Silently corrected a few palpable typos.
--In the text versions only, delimited _italicized_ text in underscores.
--Collated plate captions against species headings, and eliminated some
inconsistencies.
End of Project Gutenberg's Flowers of Mountain and Plain, by Edith S. Clements