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Sea Lavender. Marsh Rosemary

Statice Caroliniana. Leadwort Family.

Stems.--Leafless; branching. Leaves.--From the root; somewhat oblong; thick. Flowers.--Lavender-color or pale purple; tiny; scattered or loosely spiked along one side of the branches. Calyx.--Dry; funnel form. Corolla.--Small; with five petals. Stamens.-Five. Pistil.--One, with five, rarely three, styles.

In August many of the salt marshes are blue with the tiny flowers of the sea lavender. The spray-like appearance of the little plant would seem to account for its name of rosemary, which is derived from the Latin for sea-spray, but Dr. Prior states that this name was given it on account of "its usually growing on the sea-coast, and its odor."

Blossoming with the lavender we often find the great rose mallows and the dainty sea pinks. The marsh St. John's-wort as well is frequently a neighbor, and, a little later in the season, the salt marsh fleabane.