Part 16

The curious flower consists of a deep cornucopia-shaped pocket terminating in a slender hook-like spur, and 5 petal-like parts; the texture is fine and smooth, and in color it is orange or red-orange, thickly speckled with tawny-red dots, except the small curving side-parts which are less strong in hue, and even tinged with green; the 5 stamens are gathered in the mouth of the pocket, beneath the stem. The flowers swing on slender foot-stems in small groups.

Like all very juicy plants this wilts quickly when plucked. In bud the wing-like side-parts enfold the pocket. When ripe the seed-pods burst with a sudden snap that throws the seeds to a considerable distance; to this trait, and to the singular shape of the flower, are due the particular favor in which children hold the plant, and afford occasion, also, for the many by-names by which it is called, such as Snap-Weed, Silver-Weed, Lady’s Slipper, Lady’s Pocket, and Kicking Colt.

Pale Touch-me-not (I. pallida) is a light lemon-yellow variety, very like I. fulva, though the pocket of the flower is shorter, the spur less curved, and it is not so numerously spotted.

HOLLY FAMILY.

ILICINEÆ.

*Black Alder.* Ilex verticillata. *Winter Berry.* *Christmas Berry.*

Found in moist wayside thickets, and on the borders of small streams; the inconspicuous flowers opening in June and July, and the bright berries ripening in October.

This shrub is from 3 to 5 or 8 feet high, and has a round, tough stem, covered with a smooth dark gray bark.

The small oval leaf, tapering at both ends, is thin, and smooth above, but slightly woolly on the ribs beneath; the color is a strong, full green.

The small, inconspicuous flower has 4, 5, 6, and sometimes 7 or 8, small rounded divisions, and an equal number of tiny stamens; these pale, greenish flowers are clustered close to the stem, in the angles of the leaves, on the ends of the branches.

The bright red berries, about the size of a small pea, glow under the green leaves in early October, and later, among the gray twiggery they are like coals of fire.

STAFF-TREE FAMILY.

CELASTRACEÆ.

*Climbing Bitter-Sweet.* Celastrus scandens. *Staff-tree.* *Roxbury Waxwork.*

Found beside walls and in open woods, in June; growing often in damp soil.

This clambering and twisting vine grows to considerable proportions; its stems are very tough, and the bark is firm and close, somewhat shining, and dark gray with occasional bronzy flecks.

The oval leaf, with its many noticeable ribs, finely toothed margin, and fine texture, is short-stemmed; its color is a cool green, lighter and shining underneath. The arrangement is alternate.

The greenish-white flowers are small and inconspicuous, their parts all in fives; they are gathered in loose terminal clusters, which give no promise of their brilliant fruiting.

With the autumn ripening of the seed, the dry round case becomes red-orange in color, and bursts into 3 divisions, which curl backward, with many twisting curves, to display the glistening coral-red fruit. The drooping clusters of gorgeous orange and scarlet berries keep their color long, and if gathered just before the seed-cases open, will last all winter for house decoration.

BUCKTHORN FAMILY.

RHAMNACEÆ.

*New Jersey Tea.* Ceanothus Americanus. *Red-Root.*

Found on dry banks and in thicket growths, blossoming in July.

This is a widely branching, very leafy bush, woody-fibred and tough, which grows from 2 to 4 feet high, and has a coarse, roughish bark, slightly grooved, and dull bronzy-green in color.

The oval leaf is sometimes heart-shaped at the base, the veins are hairy beneath and the margin is irregularly and slightly toothed with fine points; the texture is loose; it is downy to the touch, and dull green. The leaves are set alternately on short reddish stems.

The tiny flowers have 5 very slender petals, and are a pinkish-creamy-white; they are set on white thread-like foot-stems, and gathered in close thimble-shaped clusters, upon long stems which form terminal groups. They have a faint sweet odor.

In some localities this thickly blooming shrub is much infested with insects. The flowers fall quickly, but the pretty little silvery seed-vessels are retained through the second season.

VINE FAMILY.