Wild flowers of the north-eastern states : $b Being three hundred and eight individuals common to the north-eastern United States — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Wild flowers of the north-eastern states : $b Being three hundred and eight individuals common to the north-eastern United States
John Stuart Mill · en
The leaf is compound, the 8 leaflets wedge-shaped; the margin is
deeply toothed, and the many ribs show plainly; loose of texture, and
roughened underneath with hairs. In color a rich strong green, paler
beneath, sometimes reddish, or pink. The stem is hairy; green, and
reddish near the foot.
The flower has 5 rounded petals with pointed bases; its texture is
thin; pure white in color; the stamens many and orange-yellow. The
petals are set daintily around the base of the little green cone, that
later becomes the berry, showing the 5 broad divisions of the calyx
between; just beneath the calyx, and alternate with its tips, occur 5
narrow bracts which lie so tightly underneath as to appear to belong to
it. The flowers, on short foot-stems, are placed in groups on larger
leafy stems, these forming a loose terminal cluster set on the hairy
stem which rises from the roots.
After the petals fall, the calyx turns up its tips to protect the
fruit, which droops, as it reddens and becomes pulpy. The young leaf,
as it rises from the ground, is close-folded like a delightful little
green fan; the first leaves often lie flat upon the ground, and are
rusty in color. The Strawberry has a pleasant way of bursting into a
flurry of bloom late in August; along wood-paths and unfrequented lanes
one comes upon it as a belated bit of spring. He who has smelled the
exquisite fragrance of the field strawberry fruit will not soon forget
its wild charm.
[Illustration: WILD STRAWBERRY: Fragaria Virginiana.]
*Sweet-briar.* _Rosa rubiginosa._
Found in pastures during June.
This lovely, branching, leafy bush grows to be 7 or 8 feet high under
favoring conditions, but is most often about 3 or 5 feet in height;
its stalks and branches are large and strong, round, firm-fibred, and
smooth, with frequent slender thorns which curve backward. In color, a
full clear green when young, only dashed with red-bronze, but becoming
red-brown when old. The thorns are highly polished, and of a strong red
color when old.
The little leaflets, of the 3- to 7-divided leaf, are oval, with a
prominent midrib (upon which they are occasionally creased); the margin
is doubly notched, the ribs and foot-stems hairy with little prickles;
the upper surface is soft to the touch, while the under is slightly
sticky with a resinous gum, which yields a delicious aromatic perfume.
The color is a cool and beautiful green. The leaves clasp the stalk
with a pair of small fine-pointed wings (“stipules”); they are placed
alternately, either singly or in groups, and close together.