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Wild flowers of the north-eastern states

Chapter 36: CAMPANULA FAMILY. CAMPANULACEÆ.
By Ellen Miller
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Nature/Gardening/Animals

About This Book

This illustrated manual gathers 308 common wildflowers of the northeastern United States, each drawn life-size and accompanied by plain-language descriptions emphasizing habit, color, and growth rather than technical dissection. Organized by floral families in the sequence of Gray's Manual and arranged for seasonal bloom, entries include leaves, stems, and often whole growth, with occasional shrubs, vines, and fruit shown where notable. Aimed at amateur naturalists, it favors recognizable traits and folk names to ease identification, offers practical notes on variations and habitat, and pairs accurate botanical classification with accessible, pictorial presentation.

CAMPANULA FAMILY.
CAMPANULACEÆ.

Venus’ Looking-glass.Specularia perfoliata.

Found in blossom from June through July, among the grass, in open fields, and on hills.

The simple stalk grows from 12 to 20 inches high; it is somewhat angled, and roughened on the angles; rather weak in fibre it leans against the surrounding vegetation. It is of a light green color.

The small, shell-shaped leaf is broad, heart-shaped at the base, with a scalloped margin. The leaves are strung on the stalk, alternately, at short distances; they are stiffish in texture, and light green in color.

The deeply divided 5-pointed corolla is a deep reddish-violet; there are 5 stamens, and the pistil is 3-parted; the long, cylindrical, green calyx has 5 slender points. The flowers grow from the angles of the leaves, there being usually a number open at once toward the top of the stalk.

The lower flower buds do not open, ripening their seeds without the show of blossoming. As the flowering season advances the stalk lengthens out into a long wand, strung with shell-like little green leaves, each one holding in its hollow a seed-case.