(Plate LV.)

Family

Milkwort.

Colour

Rose purple.

Odour

Scentless.

Range

Mostly south.

Time of Bloom

Late summer.

Flowers: clustered in long racemes on flower-stalks. Calyx: of five very unequal sepals, three small at the base of the flower and two rising, coloured and petal-like, at each side, appearing like little wings. Stamens: six or eight. Pistil: one. Leaves: alternate; lanceolate. Stem: much branched; hairy.

As these quaint little blossoms grow older, - and one would never associate the idea of age with them did they not rebel so openly themselves, - their rosy hue forsakes them, and they turn rather greenish. They retain, however, their lively, fly-away expression, which even old Father Time is unable to subdue.