_Specularia perfoliata (Legouzia perfoliata)_
_Flowers_--Violet blue, from 1/2 to 3/4 in. across; solitary or 2 or 3
together, seated, in axils of upper leaves. Calyx lobes varying from 3
to 5 in earlier and later flowers, acute, rigid; corolla a 5-spoked
wheel; 5 stamens; 1 pistil with 3 stigmas. _Stem:_ 6 in. to 2 ft. long,
hairy, densely leafy, slender, weak. _Leaves:_ Round, clasped about stem
by heart-shaped base.
_Preferred Habitat_--Sterile waste places, dry woods.
_Flowering Season_--May-September.
_Distribution_--From British Columbia, Oregon, and Mexico, east to
Atlantic Ocean.
At the top of a gradually lengthened and apparently overburdened leafy
stalk, weakly leaning upon surrounding vegetation, a few perfect
blossoms spread their violet wheels, while below them are insignificant
earlier flowers, which, although they have never opened, nor reared
their heads above the hollows of the little shell-like leaves where they
lie secluded, have, nevertheless, been producing seed without imported
pollen while their showy sisters slept. But the later blooms, by
attracting insects, set cross-fertilized seed to counteract any evil
tendencies that might weaken the species if it depended upon
self-fertilization only. When the European Venus’ Looking-glass used to
be cultivated in gardens here, our grandmothers tell us it was
altogether too prolific, crowding out of existence its less fruitful,
but more lovely, neighbors.