Pink ladyslipper (Cypripedium acaule). The seeds are 1.5-2 mm. long, straight or curved, colorless, and hairlike. They have no food supply, as most seeds do. They can be grown only in the laboratory in sterilized glass flasks on culture media. They are borne in ovoid, three-valved capsules about the size of a walnut and contain 30 thousand or more seeds. When ripe, the pods open along the valve edges, and the wind may carry the seeds considerable distances. Probably not I seed in I o thousand falls on a suitable place to germinate. The plants require very acid soil and are almost impossible to grow in gardens.

Trailing-arbutus (Epigaea repens). The minute oval-oblong reddish-brown, finely pitted seeds are borne on a waxy receptacle about the size of a pea, enclosed in a membranous capsule that is covered with short, stiff, glandular hairs. The ripe capsule splits into five parts, which turn back to expose the seeds. Within a short time, a line of ants will be found carrying the waxy material, with the seeds, into their nests as food for their young, and it may be a long time before the seeds are returned to the surface.

Trout-lily (Erythronium americanum). The plants are found in moist to dry open woodlands. The seeds are pale brownish, pear shaped, and about 3 mm. long. The first year, the plants develop a small bulb with a small, narrow leaf. Each succeeding year to the seventh, when they flower, they develop larger and deeper rooting bulbs with larger leaves. E. hartwegii and several similar species found in the Rocky Mountains, the Cascades, and Sierras are difficult to establish in the East. Some of them have flowered from seeds in 2 years.

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). Seeds are somewhat pear shaped, reddish brown, and about 1 mm. long. The plants may be grown in an acid soil that is rich in humus.

Closed gentian (Gentiana andrewsii). The seeds differ markedly from the next species in that they have thin, oval seeds about I mm. long, surrounded by a whitish 1 X 2 mm. wing. It is the easiest gentian to grow, but it prefers a damp soil.

Fringed gentian (Gentiana crinita). The 0.5-0.7 mm. oblong, angular-tubercled seeds ripen in capsules the latter half of October. They should be sown at once in a damp, low meadow. They cannot be grown in gardens. The seeds and flowers are similar to those of the Rocky Mountain Gentiana elegans.

Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum). The dark, ovoid seeds, 2-2.5 x 4 mm., are borne on the lower end of stiff, strap-shaped fruit segments. When ripe, the straps curl up abruptly and may throw the seed several feet.

Beach pea (Lathyrus maritimus). The seeds are spherical, smooth, dark brown, and about 5 mm, in diameter. A sea beach plant, it has typical pea-like pods and can be grown only under natural conditions.

Tigerlily (Lilium superbum). The seeds are thin, brown, oval, about 5 mm, in diameter, and surrounded by a papery, triangular wing about 8 mm. wide. The plants eventually develop a scaly bulb, which in old plants may be 2 feet or more deep in the ground.

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis). A plant of low, wet ground and swamps. The ovoid to oblong, tubercled seeds, 0.7 mm. long, should be sown only in moist soil.

Oswego-tea (Monarda didyma). It prefers moist, open thickets and woods but does well in garden soil. The seeds are oval, light to dark brown, and about 1 1.5 X 2 mm. in size.

Rosebay (Rhododendron maximum) and related eastern and northwestern species, including azaleas, as well as most other plants of the Heath family, have small, slender seeds. For germination, fill a shallow pot with sandy wood's mold from under oak trees or laurel bushes, wet down, and allow to settle over night. Sow seeds thinly and cover with a thin layer of sphagnum moss rubbed through a 16-mesh sieve, cover with glass, and protect from direct sunlight.

Golden ragwort (Senecio aureus). Seeds are linear and about 3 mm. long. An equal tuft of hairs is at the top. This, the similar S. smallii, and several southern species are among the earliest flowers of the Composite family. It is well adapted to gardens, but most seed heads should be cut before they are ripe to prevent too much spreading.

Large - flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum). A plant of rich woods and thickets, it grows well in partly shaded gardens. The reddish-brown, ovoid, 2 x 3 mm. seeds have a conspicuous hilum (point of attachment) on the edge at one end. The plants bloom in 5 to 10 years.

Blue violet (Viola papilionacea). This is typical of several common, blue-flowered species that develop normal 1 X 2 mm. seeds in a two-valved capsule; other seeds come from inconspicuous, nonopening flowers and ripen at the base of the stems.

The birdsfoot violet (Viola pedata) requires dry, acid soil and is difficult to establish in gardens.

SOUTHEASTERN SPECIES Yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens). An attractive, yellow-flowered vine with an oval 4 x 5 mm- seed at one end of a 4 x 10 mm. membranous wing for wind dispersal.

Purple gerardia (Gerardia purpurea). The seeds are pear shaped or irregularly angular, 1-3 mm. long, and dark brown and are in an ovoid, pointed, 2-celled capsule up to 7 mm. long. The plants are parasitic on grass roots.

Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens). The seeds are turnip shaped, pale, glossy, 2 x 3 mm. and have a short, conic hilum at the top.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata). This is an attractive, purple-flowered vine, whose flower parts bear a fancied resemblance to a cross and crown. The seeds are about 4 x 6 mm., dark brown, ovoid, and netted veined.

Scorpionweed (Phacelia bipinnatifida). The plants grow in rich, open woodlands and require partially shaded garden conditions. The seeds are dark, wedge shaped to angular, and about 2 x 3 mm- in size.

Meadowbeauty (Rhexia mariana). It prefers damp and sandy to peaty areas.

The seeds are pear shaped and about 0-3 mm. long.

Rosepink (Sabatia angularis). The plants grow in open woods and fields. The seeds are oval-oblong, pitted, and 0.4-0.7 mm. long.

Firepink (Silene virginica). The plants grow in open woods, thickets, and dry rocky or sandy slopes. The seeds are globular, 1.3 mm- in diameter, and finely tubercled.

Goatsrue (Tephrosia virginiana). These are plants of dry, acid soil. The 2 x 4 mm., buff-colored seeds have a conspicuous hilum at the middle of one edge.

Aarons-rod (Thermopsis caroliniana). These plants of wooded mountain areas grow well in gardens. The seeds are buff, ovoid, and 2 x 4 mm. in size. They have a conspicuous hilum on the edge near one end.

PRAIRIE AND PLAINS SPECIES The prairie and plains area is characterized by a deficiency of rainfall, increasing progressively towards the west and south. Most plants of this area are not well adapted to eastern and far western conditions, but some of them can occasionally be induced to grow in other areas, notably in rock gardens, if one provides sandy and gravelly conditions.

In the southwestern plains and often in adjoining desert areas of low annual rainfall, one may occasionally see miles of a 3-foot-wide hedge of a single weedy species, like sweetclover, along paved highways, often accompanied in the background by many plants of less weedy species. This growth may occur a short time after a sudden, heavy downpour and is caused by the heavy runoff from the paved road.

Farther away from paved roads in these areas, unusual heavy rainfall such as happens once in 5 to 10 years' or longer, will produce an almost unbelievable riot of color, in which flowers of the Composite family often predominate. This will give a good idea of what one might do experimentally with seeds of wild flowers of the area by following a dry spell with brief but copious watering.

Sandverbena (Abronia fragrans). Seeds are about 3 x 7 mm, in size and tapering; the sides are fluted and reticulate veined.

Pasqueflower (Anemone pulsatilla var. wolfgangiana). The seeds are slender, about 4 mm. long, silky, and sharp pointed at the base. They are borne at the base of a 30-mm., short, feathery awn.

Poppy-mallow (Callirhoe involucrata). The seeds are semicircular, wedge shaped, about 4 mm- long, and thinner at the side of attachment. The surface often is reticulated.

Indian paintbrush (Castilleja lindheimeri). The seeds are brownish, pear shaped, about 1.5 mm- long, and netted veined. The many species across the country are parasitic on roots of grass or shrubs.

Purple cactus (Coryphantha vivipara). The ovoid seeds are reddish brown, minutely pitted, about 1 x 2 mm., and borne in green, fleshy receptacles.

Plains-gentian (Eustoma russelliana). The seeds are oval, about 0.2 mm. long, and finely pitted.

Bindweed-heliotrope (Euploca convolvulaca). The buff, spherical, two-parted seeds are about 2 mm. in diameter.

Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis). The seeds are buff to grayish, quadrangular, and about 5 x 6 mm. in size.

Blazing-star (Mentzelia decapetala). The seeds are thin, oval, and about 3 mm. long. They have a narrow wing.

Wild four-o'clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea). The buff, oblong, pear-shaped seeds, about 2 x 5 mm- in size, are covered with short, stiff, spreading hair.

Fern-leaf evening-primrose (Oenothera laciniata). The seeds are light brown, pear shaped, and about 1-3 mm. long.

Pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha). The pale, oval seeds are about 5 mm. in diameter and have a depressed center and margin.

Large-flowered beardtongue (Penstemon grandiflorus). The seeds are buff, oblong-angular, pitted, and about 2 x 3 mm. in size. This species has pink, 40-mm. flowers and is one of the largest flowered and more easily grown over a wider area than most of the 250 American species. The few eastern species are mostly white to pale pink or bluish. In the southwestern plains and desert area, several are bright red. Most of the others are of a purple color. Some at high altitudes are deep blue or tend to become pale when cultivated at low altitudes.