SCARLET PIMPERNEL
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Anagallis arvensis  L.
Woodson County, Kansas
Annual, rarely perennial
Height: 4-18 inches
Family: Primulaceae - Primrose Family
Flowering Period:   May, June, July, August
Also Called: Poor-man's-weatherglass.
Stems: Ascending to erect, branched from base; plants glabrous.
Leaves: Cauline, usually opposite, sometimes whorled distally; blade ovate to elliptic or lanceolate, .1 to 1.2 inch long, .12 to .4 inch wide, margins entire, tip acute.
Inflorescences: Usually axillary, flowers solitary.
Flowers: Pedicels .12 to 1.4 inch; calyx lobes 5, lanceolate, .12 to .2 inch; corolla salmon, red, or blue, rotate, lobes 5, spreading, obovate, .12 to .25 inch, apex obtuse; stamens 5, exserted.
Fruits: Capsules, spheric, .16 to .25 inch; seeds 12-45, brown, angled, minute.
Habitat: Open disturbed sites, fields, and roadsides.
Distribution: East 1/2 of Kansas
Origin: Introduced
Comments: The flowers close on cloudy days, thus the common name poor-man's weatherglass. Anagallis - to laugh, alluding to supposed power to alleviate sadness.

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