the erect pink spikes brightening roadsides, rubbish heaps, fields, and
waste places, from midsummer to frost. The little flowers, which open
without method anywhere on the spike they choose, attract many insects,
the smaller bees (_Andrena_) conspicuous among the host. As the
spreading divisions of the perianth make nectar-stealing all too easy
for ants and other crawlers that would not come in contact with anthers
and stigma where they enter a flower near its base, most buckwheat
plants whose blossoms secrete sweets protect themselves from theft by
coating the upper stems with glandular hairs that effectually discourage
the pilferers. Shortly after fertilization, the little rounded,
flat-sided fruit begins to form inside the persistent pink calyx. At any
time the spike-like racemes contain more bright pink buds and shining
seeds than flowers. Familiarity alone breeds contempt for this plant,
that certainly possesses much beauty. The troublesome and wide-ranging
weed called lady's thumb is a near relative.




POKEWEED FAMILY _(Phytolaccaceae)_


Pokeweed; Scoke; Pigeon-berry; Ink-berry; Garget

_Phytolacca decandra_

_Flowers_--White, with a green centre, pink tinted outside, about 1/4
in. across, in bracted racemes 2 to 8 in. long. Calyx of 4 or 5 rounded
persistent sepals, simulating petals; no corolla; 10 short stamens;
10-celled ovary, green, conspicuous; styles curved. _Stem:_ Stout,