Found in meadows and waysides, from July to September. A plant, from 5 to 9 feet high, with many branches and leaves; the stalk is stout, and large (from 1 to 2, or more, inches in diameter), and round; it is hard-fibred and smooth; in color a dull crimson. The large leaf is oval, tapering to the tip, and set on a very short stem; the texture is exceedingly fine, and smooth, and the color a rather dark and grave green. The arrangement is alternate. The small 5-parted flower is white, tinted on the outside with crimson; the seed-box in the center is green. The flowers, on short, pale crimson foot-stems, grow in elongated terminal clusters upon crimson stems. The blossoms begin to open at the base of the cluster and continue upward, leaving behind the partly formed berries; when ripe they form a cluster of blue-black fruit, smooth-skinned, and with an abundant crimson juice. The Pokeberry is a plant of homely gesture and a rather strong odor, redeemed by its luxuriant growth, and the fine quality of its foliage. The berries are favorites of children who squeeze them to use their deep magenta-crimson juice for writing and painting and dyeing purposes. [Illustration: POKEBERRY: Phytolacca decandra.] BUCKWHEAT FAMILY. POLYGONACEÆ. *Red Sorrel.* _Rumex Acetosella._ *Sheep Sorrel.* *Horse Sorrel.* Found everywhere in impoverished soil during May and June. Many slender, leafy stems from 6 to 12 inches in height, and bearing flowers terminally, spring from a foot-tuffet of leaves. The lower leaves are pointed, with long and flaring wing-like bases (“halberd-shape”); they are set on long grooved stems; the upper leaves are similar in shape, or Jack the winged bases, and are set on short stems. Their margins are entire and their texture is thick, juicy, and porous, with a smooth surface; gray-green in color. They are acid to the taste. The very tiny flower has 6 petal-like parts, and many stamens, and is in color a bright yellow-green, turning to reddish- or crimson-tawny. The flowers are arranged irregularly on branching stems in a feathery spire. Spreading by underground runners, the Red Sorrel colors the dry fields of early summer with its rich hues, and children love its fresh leaves for their tart flavor; but few give its feathery plumes their meed of praise, since it is nothing more than “a common weed.” [Illustration: RED SORREL: Rumex Acetosella.] *Tear-thumb.* _Polygonum sagittatum._ Found blossoming on swampy ground, and along ditches, from July to October. The weak-fibred, 4-angled, stalk, armed on the angles with sharp saw-toothed prickles, that point downwards, is green in color. The long arrow-shaped leaves have short foot-stems, and grow singly, at long intervals; they have entire edges, and a smooth surface, though the back of the midrib is set with small prickles; they are fine in texture, and of a dark green color.