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 corolla is a small 5-pointed bell, curved inwards at the throat and
spreading its points to show the thread-like, green pistil; of a fine
smooth texture and pure white; the 5-parted calyx is curved closely to
the bell,--white, or yellow, or tawny-tinted; at its base are found 2
little rusty, or white bracts. The flowers are set on short rusty stems
which grow from the angles of the leaves, and turn downward.
It is worth the effort to discover the shy Cassandra’s haunts, in order
to see the bush, its slender branches set close with pretty hanging
bells beneath the alert leaves, that stand upright above them, in
watchful military rows.
[Illustration: CASSANDRA: Cassandra calyculata.]
*Marsh Andromeda.* _Andromeda polifolia._
*Wild Rosemary.*
Found in swamps and marsh lands, in May.
This shrub grows between 1 and 2 feet high; it is branching, leafy, and
slender, with a woody fibre. The bark on the young shoots is smooth and
firm, when old it is rough and inclined to split.
The leaf is evergreen. In shape it is long and needle-like, a
resemblance caused by its closely rolled edges which give it a stiff
erectness of bearing; the texture is firm and dry, its upper surface
being slightly grained, though it is smooth underneath. In color it is
a dark, rich green, pale beneath. The leaves are set, on very short
tawny stems, close together, and alternately.
The mouth of the small bell-shaped flower is almost closed; its oval
form is diversified by the little pinched folds which run up from
between its 5 little tips. In color it is a rosy tinted white; the
little 5-parted calyx being colored like the corolla. The bells are
set on short white foot-stems that are enfolded by tiny greenish-pink
bracts; they are close gathered in small groups, and nod at the ends of
the branches.
The fine-pointed leaves, whatever the angle from which they spring, all
turn upward, giving a curious flat and conventionally decorative effect
to the branches.
[Illustration: MARSH ANDROMEDA: Andromeda polifolia.]
*Privet Andromeda.* _Andromeda ligustrina._
Found in moist wayside thickets and swamps; blossoming in June.
The tough, woody stalk, erect, branching, and leafy, is covered with a
smooth, light gray bark. It grows from 3 to 6, or more, feet in height.
The small leaves are from 1 to 2 inches long, tapering at both ends;
they are alternate, on very short foot-stems. The margin is entire, or
very finely notched, surface smooth, and texture firm. Color, green.
The small, bell-shaped flower is nearly round, with 5 tiny, recurved
points at the top. It is inconspicuous in color, being of a dull
greenish white, the tawny stamens showing within. The flowers, on
short, curved stems, hang from one side of the twigs, on the ends of
the branches.