F!M LIBRARY
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SUMMER WILD FLOWERS
J. FRANCIS MACBRIDE
Assistant Curator, Taxonomy, Department of Botany
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53*
Published by
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
CHICAGO
1924
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This leaflet is the third of a series of Field Museum
leaflets illustrating some of the more common or attrac-
tive wild flowers of the Chicago region. The two pre-
ceding leaflets describe the spring and early summer
flowers, and a fourth will illustrate autumn flowers and
fruits.
LIST OF BOTANICAL LEAFLETS ISSUED TO DATE
No. 1. Figs $ .10
No. 2. The Coco Palm 10
No. 3. Wheat .10
No. 4. Cacao 10
No. 5. A Fossil Flower 10
No. 6. The Cannon Ball Tree (in preparation) ... .10
No. 7. Spring Wild Flowers 25
No. 8. Spring and Early Summer Wild Flowers . . .25
No. 9. Summer Wild Flowers 25
No. 10. Autumn Flowers and Fruits 25
D. C. DAVIES
DIRECTOR
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
CHICAGO, U.S.A.
Field Museum of Natural History
DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
Chicago, 1924
Leaflet Number 9
SUMMER WILD FLOWERS
MILKWEED. SILKWEED
(Asclepias species)
The usually milky juice and the silk-filled pods
characterize this well-known perennial. The flowers
are distinctive, with pentagonal centers surrounded
by five hood-like structures each containing an incurved
horn. Of many species, none is handsomer than the
Butterflyweed with its brilliant orange-red flowers,
red stalk and green leaves. The Common Milkweed,
much taller and stouter, with purplish flowers,
furnishes from its pods the "silk" from which orna-
ments are made. The Swamp Milkweed is another
common variety with many leaves and rose-purple
flowers. (Milkweed Family)
[63]
Field Museum of Natural History
ARROW-HEAD
(Sagittaria species)
About the muddy edges of streams and in shallow
shores the Smooth Arrow-head produces white, yel-
low-centered flowers all summer long. Usually the
leaves are broadly arrow-shaped, borne on long stalks,
but sometimes, when the plant grows in deeper water,
they are long and narrow. (Water Plantain Family)
[64]
Summer Wild Flowers
PICKEREL-WEED
(Pontederia cor data)
The violet-blue flower-spikes of the Pickerel-weed
are usually seen massed along the margins of ponds
and in marshes. The smooth stout stem bears only
one leaf, the other long-stalked heart-shaped leaves
being produced directly from the creeping roots.
It is said that the Pickerel is wont to place its
eggs at the bases of this shore plant. (Pickerel-weed
Family)
[65]
Field Museum of Natural History
LILY
(Lilium species)
Only one of our three species of lilies bears its
blossoms erect. This is the Wood Lily. Its flowers
are reddish orange or deep red, spotted with purplish.
The flowers of the Yellow Lily of moist meadows
and bogs are borne nodding on long stalks. They are
of a yellow or orange color, usually spotted with brown.
The Turk's Cap Lily is the finest of all. Its stems,
reared in rich low grounds to a height of several feet,
bear nodding orange flowers that are thickly spotted
with purple within. The flower parts are strongly
turned back. (Lily Family)
[66]
Summer Wild Flowers
FRINGED ORCHIS
(Habenaria species)
The Fringed Orchis, one of our finest native or-
chids, usually grows in a bog or wet meadow where
it raises its slender stem to a height of one or two feet.
Near its summit, in a short wand or raceme, are the
two-lipped golden or purplish flowers. The lower
part or "lip", of the blossom is prominently fringed;
often it is also three-parted. The small slender leaves
are rather inconspicuous and borne erectly along the
stem. (Orchid Family)
[67]
Field Museum of Natural History
CAMPION. CATCHFLY
(Silene and Lychnis species)
The Campions comprise a group of attractive
flowers which includes the Ragged Robin and the Wild
Pink, all related to the Carnation. They are slender-
stemmed small-leaved plants characterized by a tubular
usually inflated or box-like calyx from the top of which
protrude the slender often cleft or fringed petals.
These may be white, pink, or scarlet. The White
Starry Campion of woody banks is pictured. (Pink
Family)
[68]
Summer Wild Flowers
BOUNCING BET. SOAPWORT
(Saponaria officinalis)
When this stout perennial of roadsides is culti-
vated its showy rose-colored flowers are commonly
double instead of single as shown in the photograph.
At the apparent base of each petal, where it enters
the tube- or box-like calyx, there is a little fringe.
The juice of this plant forms a soapy lather with
water. (Pink Family)
[69]
Field Museum of Natural History
[70]
Summer Wild Flowers
WATER LILIES
(Nymphaea, Castalia and Nelumbo species)
The most attractive of our Water Lilies is the
Sweet Scented Water Nymph of ponds or slow-flowing
streams. Its solitary white or pink-tinged flower, that
is often five inches across, opens soon after sunrise,
and closes during the afternoon. Its round leaves are
usually purplish-red beneath.
The Common Cow Lily or Spatter-dock of quiet or
stagnant waters may be known by its simple yellow
flowers that are produced all summer. Often they are
in part purplish-tinged. The Lotus or Water Chinqua-
pin has large yellow flowers and circular leaves usually
raised high out of the water. Both the tubers and seeds
of this species of Water Lily are edible. (Water Lily
Family)
[71]
10
Field Museum of Natural History
TICK TREFOIL
(Desmodium species)
The pea-like flowers of the Showy Tick Trefoil
illustrated are purple ; the leaves consist of three leaf-
lets borne together at the end of a single stalk; the
erect stems are often several feet high. There are
many species of Tick Trefoils, all possessing the three-
foliate leaves and flat pods, which, deeply lobed along
one side, finally separate into several joints or parts.
(Pea Family)
[72]
Summer Wild Flowers
11
*i is
JEWELWEED. TOUCH-ME-NOT
(Impatiens species)
The succulent Jewelweed growing smooth and
rank in wet shady places may be recognized easily by
its delicately pendulous flowers. These are somewhat
bell-shaped but the closed portion tapers to a recurved
hook or spur. The color is pale yellow or orange,
more or less dotted with reddish-brown.
The ripe seed-pods open at the slightest touch,
throwing their seeds to a distance of several feet.
(Touch-me-not-Family)
[73]
12
Field Museum of Natural History
Courtesy Frank M. Woodruff, Curator, The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
ST. JOHN'S WORT
{Hypericum species)
The St. John's Wort is recognized readily by its
yellow flowers, their centers filled with tufts of fila-
mentous stamens, and by its dotted leaves. These
transparent dots are especially noticeable upon holding
a leaf to the light. There are many species, some
herbs, some bushes, but none are finer than the Shrubby
St. John's Wort shown in the picture. (St. John's
Wort Family)
[74]
Summer Wild Flowers
13
GREAT WILLOW-HERB. FIREWEED
(Epilobium angustifolium)
Where a piece of land has been burned over,
especially a lowland, or a clearing made, the Fireweed
is almost sure to raise its pyramidal raceme of showy
purple-red blossoms. These are borne toward the top
of a glossy stem that may be six feet high. The leaves
are lance-shaped and scattered along the stalk below
the flowers. (Evening Primrose Family)
[75]
14
Field Museum of Natural History
Courtesy Frank M. Woodruff, Curator, The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
QUEEN ANNE'S LACE
(Daucus Carota)
Doubtless the farmer considers the well-known
Queen Anne's Lace a "pernicious weed" of fields and
waste places. However, its tall bristly stems with
much divided fern-like leaves bear at their summits
very pretty flat-topped sprays composed of numerous
clusters of tiny white or roseate flowers.
The Water Parsnip of muddy shores is a similar
plant with smooth stout stems and coarser leaf -divis-
ions. (Parsley Family)
[76]
Summer Wild Flowers
15
HEDGE BINDWEED. WILD MORNING GLORY
(Convolvulus septum)
The Morning Glory-like flowers of this vine of
hedge-rows, stream-thickets and cornfields are white
or rose-tinted; the leaves are triangular or halberd-
shaped and are often somewhat toothed near the base.
The twining stems of the Bindweed always turn
to the left (opposite to the direction of the hands of a
watch). They grow and move very rapidly, observa-
tions having shown that they may describe a com-
plete circle in less than two hours. (Morning Glory
Family)
[77]
16
Field Museum of Natural History
VERBENA. BLUE VERVAIN
(Verbena species)
Slender spikes of small bright violet-blue flowers
borne, candelabra-like, at the top of a straight leafy
stem characterize the Blue Vervain. The plants often
grow in groups, forming showy patches along road-
sides or in pastures. The brilliant Verbena of gar-
dens is a related herb.
The Vervain, as one of the so-called "sacred
plants" of ancient times, was supposed to possess
many virtues, including the power to offset the in-
fluence of witches. (Verbena Family)
[78]
Summer Wild Flowers
17
FALSE DRAGON HEAD
(Physostegia virginiana)
The handsome tubular and two-lipped rose-purple
flowers of this tall perennial of wet places are borne
in one or several wand-like spikes at the summit of the
leafy stem. The numerous, longish leaves are sharply-
toothed.
The False Dragon Head has the square stems and
opposite leaves that characterize all the members of
the Mint Family.
[79]
18
Field Museum of Natural History
WILD BERGAMOT
(Monarda fistulosa)
Square stems, oppositely placed leaves and head-
like showy clusters of tubular two-lipped flowers serve
to identify this vigorous perennial. The slender blos-
soms are sometimes lilac, sometimes pink, or even
crimson. The plants vary from a foot to several feet
in height, usually many stems growing together in a
clump.
Closely related is the Horse, Mint with the flower-
heads in the axils of the upper leaves. Its blossoms
are yellowish with purple dots. (Mint Family)
[80]
Summer Wild Flowers
19
COMMON MULLEIN. VELVET PLANT
(Verbascum Thapsus)
The tall stout wand-like stem of the woolly leaved
Mullein is a familiar sight along pasture fences and in
old fields. In some places it bears the rather apt
names of Aaron's Rod and Jacob's Staff. The Mullein
is an immigrant from Europe, supposed to have come
over in ship ballast. (Figwort Family)
[81]
20
Field Museum of Natural History
BUTTER AND EGGS
(Linaria vulgaris)
Originally an introduced garden plant from
Europe, the Yellow Toadflax is now common in our
fields and roadsides where its orange and yellow
flowers, borne in profusion, make colorful patches. Its
straight stems, sometimes a foot or more in height, are
thickly clothed with numerous narrow leaves. It is
said that the acrid juice of this plant, when mixed
with milk, makes an excellent fly-poison. (Figwort
Family)
[82]
Summer Wild Flowers
21
Courtesy Frank M. Woodruff, Curator, The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
TURTLEHEAD. SNAKEHEAD. SHELL FLOWER
(Chelone glabra)
The names of this plant all refer to the shape of
the flower. The tall branching stems, slender leaves,
and terminal clusters or spikes of the large white or
rose-tinged flowers well mark this smooth perennial
of wet places. (Figwort Family)
[83]
22
Field Museum of Natural History
CULVER'S-ROOT. CULVER'S PHYSIC
( Veron tea v irginica )
The slender tapering white or blue-tinted spikes
of this herb of moist woods and meadows are well-
known. . It has tall smooth stems and finely toothed
leaves that are borne at intervals in whorls of four or
seven. (Figwort Family)
[84]
Summer Wild Flowers
23
BUTTONBUSH
(Cephalanthus occidentalis)
The heads of white flowers, borne like balls on
short stalks, distinguish easily this shrub of swamps
and stream banks. Its leaves grow in pairs and in
threes at intervals along the smooth stems. The most
interesting feature of the Buttonbush is the delightful
fragrance of the flowers. These are rather inconspicu-
ous but keep opening from June to Sept. (Coffee Fam.)
[85]
24
Field Museum of Natural History
BALSAM APPLE. WILD CUCUMBER
(Echinocystis lobata)
This vine of river-thickets is well-known in culti-
vation as an annual shade-plant on arbors and porches.
Its small greenish-white flowers are scarcely as orna-
mental as the nodding inflated egg-shaped pods, covered
with weak prickles. The pods finally burst at one end.
The Bur or Star Cucumber is similar but has
fewer clustered flowers and small clustered pods that
are densely armed with slender spines. (Gourd
Family)
[86]
Summer Wild Flowers
25
BLACK-EYED SUSAN. RUDBECKIA
(Rudbeckia hirta)
The daisy-like flowers of the Rudbeckia or "Yel-
low Daisy", as it is often called, have dark brown or
nearly black raised centers and yellow rays or "petals".
They are solitary on the tall (1-3 ft.) bristly-hairy
stems. The rather few and narrowish leaves are as
rough to the touch as the stalks.
The Black-eyed Susan blooms from June to Sep-
tember and sometimes is a troublesome weed in fields
and meadows. It is one of the few plants native to the
United States which, carried to Europe with grain,
etc., has become established there as a weed. (Daisy
Family)
[87]
26
Field Museum of Natural History
BLAZING STAR. GAYFEATHER
(Liatris species)
The tall wand-like stems of this perennial of sunny
places produce, to some distance below their tops,
feathery rose-purple flowers that suggest little tufts
of ragged colored paper. The stem is clothed with
numerous slender leaves.
The name "Button Snakeroot" given to this plant
refers to the roundish tuber which superstition con-
nects with a cure for rattlesnake bite. (Daisy Family)
[88]
Summer Wild Flowers
27
MAY-WEED. CHAMOMILE
(Anthemis Cotula)
This ill-scented weed of barnyards and roadsides,
bearing numerous white daisy-like flowers with yellow
centers, is attractive as long as it is not picked. Like
the Skunk Cabbage and some red Trilliums it is a plant
to be admired where it grows. It is a low annual herb
with finely divided leaves and is closely related to the
strong-scented Chamomile of old gardens. (Daisy
Family)
[89]
28
Field Museum of Natural History
Courtesy Frank M. Woodruff, Curator, The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
OX-EYE. FALSE SUNFLOWER
(Heliopsis scabra)
The Ox-eye, with Sunflower-like blossoms on long-
stalks, is a rather coarse perennial of sunny dryish
soils. Its ovate leaves, roughish to the touch and
toothed along the edges are borne in pairs at close
intervals along the tall stems. (Daisy Family)
[90]
Summer Wild Flowers
29
YARROW. MILFOIL
(Achillea Millefolium)
This weedy plant of a "thousand leaves" has nearly
as many names. Since the days of Troy it has had
some association with humanity. At one time its
pungently-scented, finely-divided leaves were thought
to have a remedial value; again its white or purplish
flat-topped clusters of small flowers have been con-
sidered as worthy a place in the garden: just now it
is usually only a field or roadside weed where it is often
such a nuisance that its beauty is rarely recognized.
(Daisy Family)
[91]
30 Field Museum of Natural History
The photographs, unless otherwise credited, are by L. W.
Brownell, with the exception of the Fringed Orchis by C. F.
Millspaugh, and Vervain, False Dragon Head and Blazing Star
by H. H. Smith.
J. Francis Macbride.
[92]
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