KEYS TO FLOWERS BY COLOR
Reading edition
The flowers are grouped under their most conspicuous colors, the ones the novice would be most apt to call them. As far as possible the smallest flowers are placed first in each section.
[White] [Blue] [Magenta] [Pink] [Red] [Orange] [Yellow] [Brown]
WHITE AS THE CHIEF FLOWER-COLOR
False Spikenard—Tiny; clustered 32
False Solomon’s Seal—3 leaves on stalk 33
Meadow Rue—Filmy cluster; 3-lobed leaves 69
Sundew—Raceme; leaves hairy, basal 81
Saxifrage—Cluster; 5 petals; basal leaves 82
Mitrewort—Raceme; 5 petals; crystal-like 83
Foam Flower—Feathery spike; leaves basal 83
Meadowsweet—Spike-like cluster 84
White Clover—Triple leaves; round heads 95
Ginseng—Umbel; 3 compound leaves 121
Wild Carrot—Flat cluster; divided leaves 122
Catnip—Small clusters; aromatic 154
Rattlesnake Plantain—Tubular, spiked 55
Ladies’ Tresses—Spiral spike; tubular 55
Checkerberry—Tubular, pendent; evergreen 131
[210]
Partridgeberry—In pairs, 4-lobed 170
Violet—5 petals, lower large, veined 115
Star-of-Bethlehem—Umbel; grasslike leaves 41
Dutchman’s Breeches—2 sac-like spurs 77
Squirrel Corn—Tubular, heart-shaped 77
Toothwort—4 petals; 2 compound leaves 78
Star Flower—Above whorl of leaves 137
Bladder Campion—5 petals; inflated calyx 62
Evening Lychnis—5 notched petals 62
Anemone—5-6 sepals; delicate low herbs 70
Pipsissewa—Cluster; 5 waxy petals 124
Shin-leaf—Raceme; 5 waxy petals 125
Indian Pipe—Cold, clammy white; no green 125
Turtle-head—Tubular, 2-lipped; spiked 161
Cornel—4-parted involucre. Low herb 123
Bloodroot—Solitary; 6-10 petals 75
Mandrake—Solitary; 6 petals; large leaves 74
Fringed Orchis—Showy spike; lip fringed 50
Trillium—3 petals, 3 sepals; 3 leaves 38
Arrow-heads—Aquatic; 3 petals 19
Water Arum—Aquatic; large white spathe 21
Grass of Parnassus—5 petals, green-veined 82
[211]
Azalea—Shrub; tubular, 5 spreading lobes 126
Laurel—Clustered, saucer-shaped; shrub 129
Atamasco Lily—Erect, 6-parted; solitary 41
Lady’s Slipper—Large, white, slipper-shaped 46
Dogwood—Shrub or tree; 4-parted involucre 123
Water Lily—Floating, numerous petals 66
BLUE AS THE CHIEF FLOWER-COLOR
Bluets—Tiny, 4-lobed; white, blue-tipped 170
Toadflax—Spurred, hooded, tiny lip 160
Forget-me-not—5 petals, yellow centre 150
Day Flower—2 petals; delicate; spathed 23
Pickerel-weed—Aquatic; showy spike 24
Mud Plantain—Aquatic; kidney-shaped leaf 24
Fringed Gentian—4 spreading, fringed lobes 141
Bugloss—Leafy racemes; tubular, 5 lobes 151
Lobelia—Leafy spike; 3-lobed lip 175
Blue-eyed grass—6-parted, white centre 44
Sundew—Raceme; leaves thread-like 81
St. Johnswort—Flesh color, 5 petals 111
Speedwell—Axillary racemes, 4 petals 163
[212]
Showy Orchis—Purple hood, white lip 54
Fringed Orchis—Showy spike; lips fringed 51
Cinquefoil—5-parted, calyx large 86
Lupine—Pea-like; 8-palmated leaflets 91
False Indigo—Pea-like; 3-palmate leaflets 91
Flax—5 large petals; tiny leaves 99
Vervain—5 petals, tiny; slender spikes 152
Self-heal—Short, stout spike; hooded 153
Skullcap—Spiked; tubular with hood and lip 153
Ground Ivy—Prostrate; axillary flowers 154
Monkey Flower—2-lobed upper; 3-lobed lower 162
Gerardia—Tubular, 5-lobed; linear leaves 164
Hepatica—6 petals; 3-lobed leaves; downy 73
Spiderwort—Small cluster; 3 petals; hairy 23
Violets—5 petals; lower large, veined 113
Loosestrife—Showy spike; 5 long petals 117
Milk-weeds—Axillary clusters; milky juice 146
Bittersweet—5 petals; yellow cone centre 157
Cranesbill—5 petals; palmate leaves 102
Virgin’s Bower—Large bell-shaped; 4 sepals 71
Meadow Beauty—4 petals; long curved pistil 118
Closed Gentian—Tubular, closed 143
[213]
Phlox—Corymbed; 5 spreading petals 149
Bluebell—Bell-shaped, 5-toothed; slender 173
Bellflower—Showy spike; 5-toothed corolla 173
Thorn Apple—Funnel-form, 5-pointed lobes 158
Morning Glory—Funnel-shaped; climbing 148
Blue Flag—3 petals; 3 sepals variegated 43
Wake Robin—3 petals, 3 sepals, 3 leaves 38
BLUE OR MAGENTA COMPOSITES
Iron-weed—Tubular florets; clustered 176
Blazing Star—Tubular florets; loose spike 176
Joe Pye Weed—Tubular florets; flat clusters 177
Burdock—Tubular florets; spiny involucre 201
Thistles—Tubular florets; spiny leaves 202
Asters—Blue or purple rays 182
Robin Plantain—Purple rays 191
Chicory—Blue rays, notched at tip 206
PINK AS THE CHIEF FLOWER-COLOR
Persicaria—Tiny, in slender spikes 59
Steeplebush—Steeple-like cluster 84
[214]
Red Clover—Trifoliate; round flower-head 94
Twinflower—In pairs; crimson inside 171
Dogbane—5-toothed, bell-shaped; spreading 144
Arbutus—Creeping; 5-parted, fragrant 131
Milkwort—Round scaly heads; small leaves 104
Fringed Polygalia—2 wing-like sepals 103
Pogonia—Solitary; broad, crested lip 53
Calopogon—Several; fringed leaf at top 52
Arethusa—Solitary; broad crested lip; erect 52
Bouncing Bet—5-parted, deeply lobed 63
Spring Beauty—5-parted; grass-like leaves 65
Willow Herb—4 petals, slender pods; spike 119
Azalea—Tubular, 5-lobed; long stamens; shrub 127
Laurel—Clustered; saucer-shaped 130
Moss Pink—Creeping; 5-notched petals 148
Sabbatia—Large; 10-12 petals; 2 inch across 140
Sea Pink—5 petals, crimson marks; showy 139
Rhododendron—5 petals, yellow spots; shrub 128
Rose Mallow—5 petals, large, 3 inch across 109
Wild Rose—5 large petals; spiny stems 89
Moccasin Flower—Large, slipper-shaped 47
[215]
RED AS THE CONSPICUOUS FLOWER-COLOR
Wood Lily—Deep orange-red, spotted, erect 28
Columbine—Pendulous; 5-spurred 72
Pitcher Plant—Leaves hollow 80
Pimpernel—Copper-red, 5 petals; sandy soil 137
Oswego Tea—Striking, tubular; round heads 156
Painted Cup—Floral leaves scarlet tipped 165
Coral Honeysuckle—Slender, yellow within 172
Cardinal Flower—Lip 3-lobed; velvety 174
ORANGE AS THE CHIEF FLOWER-COLOR
Jewel-weed—Pendent; bunch-like, spurred 106
Butterfly-weed—Terminal cluster, brilliant 145
Toadflax—Yellow spur and lip; orange palate 160
Trumpet Creeper—Large trumpet-shaped; vine 168
Turk’s Cap Lily—Reflexed, spotted; leafy 29
Day Lily—Erect; basal, sword-shaped leaves 27
Hawkweed—Rays in several ranks 208
Dandelions—Rays in several ranks 205
Tansy—Flat clusters, no rays 199
[216]
Golden-rods—Plume-like spikes; 5-12 rays 180
Golden Aster—Golden rays; sandy soil 178
Elecampane—Slender, yellow rays; disc 190
Sunflowers—Yellow rays, large disc 194
Cone-flower—Orange rays, purple cone disc 192
Ragwort—Orange rays and small disc 200
YELLOW AS THE CHIEF FLOWER-COLOR
Golden Club—Aquatic; club-shaped spike 21
Hop Clover—Cylindrical, scaly heads 96
Yellow Flax—Tiny flowers; tiny leaves 99
Hudsonia—Tiny flowers; scale-like leaves 112
Fly Honeysuckle—Axillary in pairs; tubular 171
Wood Sorrel—5 petals; delicate; trifoliate 101
Wild Indigo—Pea-like, racemed; trifoliate 92
Cinquefoil—5 petals; 5-palmate leaflets 86
Mustard—4 petals, slender pods; clusters 79
Celandine—4 petals, slender pods; orange juice 76
Yellow Star Grass—6 sepals; grass-like 42
Dog-tooth Violet—Solitary; 6 parted 31
Clintonia—6-parted; 3 oval, basal leaves 31
[217]
St. Johnswort—5 petals, many long stamens 110
Violet—5 petals; lower large, veined 116
Loosestrife—Showy spike; 5 petals, basal spot 134
Loosestrife—Axillary; leaves whorled in fours 134
Mullein—Long spike, 5 petals; wooly 159
Moth Mullein—Raceme; 5 large petals 159
Fringed Orchis—Showy spike; lip fringed 49
Cowslip—5 shining petals; clustered 67
Buttercup—5 shining petals 68
Partridge Pea—5 petals; pinnate leaves 93
Frostweed—5 petals; axillary; small leaves 112
Primrose—4 petals; coarse stem and leaves 120
Sundrops—4 petals; slender stem 120
Foxglove—Tubular, 5-lobed; leafy spike 164
False Jessamine—5-lobed; climbing, tubular 138
Yellow Pond Lily—Aquatic; floating leaves 66
Lady’s Slipper—Solitary, slipper-shaped 45
Canada Lily—Pendulous; leafy stem 30
BROWNISH, GREENISH, OR INCONSPICUOUS
Cat-tails—Cylindrical brown heads 17
Bur Reeds—Spherical brown-yellow heads 18
[218]
Indian Turnip—Large striped spathe 20
Skunk Cabbage—Large spathe set on ground 22
Solomon’s Seal—In pairs from axils; greenish 35
Cucumber-root—3, 3-parted, spider-like flowers 37
Green-fringed Orchis—Lips fringed; spiked 48
Wild Ginger—Tubular, 3-lobed; near roots 57
Stone Clover—Fuzzy gray heads; trifoliate 94
Ground Nut—Spherical, pea-like clusters 98
Wood Betony—2-lipped; clustered; fern-like 166
Beech Drops—Resembling little twigs 167
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