Part 69

LILIACEÆ.

*Adder’s-tongue.* Erythronium Americanum. *Dog-tooth Violet.* *Trout Lily.*

Found in early May on springy slopes or in moist meadow-lands.

Two leaves and the single flower-stem, which is about 6 or 8 inches in height, rise from the root.

The leaves are long and oval, tapering at the tip, with an entire margin, of a thick and juicy texture, and a smooth surface that is cool to the touch. The color is green with a bloom upon it, and mottled and streaked with dull red, which appears very strongly in the midrib and near the base of the leaf.

The flower is nodding and lily like in its general character; formed of 6 long taper-pointed petal-like calyx-parts. A ridge runs down the middle of each of the 3 inner parts. The flower is yellow; dark reddish on the outside of the outer divisions, and spotted with minute reddish dots on the inside of the inner divisions. The 6 stamens are large and yellow, and the pale greenish-yellow pistil is club-shaped, with 3 grooves. The flower-stem is round, smooth, and pale; it grows from between the two leaves.

In the sun the flower opens wide, its three outer divisions rolling back, and exhales a fragrant smell like that of new lilac shoots; the markings on the leaves are richer in color when the plant grows in more shaded places. It is a communistic plant, and exceeding capricious in withholding its bloom when transplanted.

*Red Trillium.* Trillium erectum. *Purple Trillium.* *Red Benjamin.* *Bumble-bee-root.* *Squaw-root.* *Wake Robin.*

Found in the shade of damp woods, in May.

The simple stalk, varying from 6 to 12 inches in height, bears a whorl of leaves on its summit (from which springs the flower); it is large, round, juicy and smooth, and a deep or purplish-red color at the foot, but light green near the top.

The large and handsome leaf is a diamond shape, of about equal width and length, pointed at both ends; its ribs and veins form a stout and important framework, the margin is entire, texture loose, and the surface is shining underneath though not above; the color is a full green, tinged with pink at the base. Three leaves are set in a whorl.

The flower also is rather large; its 3 long oval petals are thin and close in texture, and colored a rich deep maroon-red, the underside inclining to purple, with parallel veins marked with a darker color. The calyx is 3-parted, the divisions shorter and more pointed than the petals; of a green color, edged and veined with red. The petals and calyx-parts spread alternately around the base of the prominent, 3-parted, conical, dark crimson pistil, and the 6 erect stamens, with their pale yellow or white tips. The single flower, on a square or round stem, springs from the whorl of leaves.

Though not strong in odor, its quality is rather rank. The flower-stem usually inclines to one side. When the plant first rises from the ground the leaves are close folded about the sharply-conical flower bud. White or greenish flowers are sometimes found instead of deep red.

*Nodding Trillium.* Trillium cernuum. *Wake Robin.* *White Benjamin.*

Found in moist woods and on shaded banks in May.

The single, rather large and smooth stalk grows from 8 to 14 or 15 inches in height. It is light green, or reddish near the foot.

The leaf is large, a broad diamond-shape with long-pointed tip; it has 3 strong ribs, a fine texture, and smooth surface; and it grows in a whorl of 3 upon the summit of the stalk. The color is a full, juicy green.

The flower is rather large; the 3 petals are tapering, recurved, and white; the alternating calyx-parts are light green; the 6 stamens are dull lavender,--the pistil 3-parted. The single flower, on its short stem, hangs under the leaves, which almost conceal it.

*Bellwort.* Uvularia perfoliata. *Wild Oat.* *Straw Bell.*

Found in damp woods, during May.

The slender stalk forks at the top into 2 (or sometimes more) branches; it reaches the height of 10 or 15 inches, is hard and round, grooved a little, and shining. The color is a cool light green, tinted with purple-brown at the foot. Two or three sheath-like leaves enfold it near the foot.

The oblong leaf grows together about the stalk, with an appearance of being strung upon it; it is deeply creased upon the midrib, the margin is entire, and its texture is firm and thin, most pleasant to the touch. The color is a cool fine green, underneath pale with bloom. The leaves are alternate, and occur only upon the branches.

The flower is shaped like a slender deep bell, whose pointed tips slightly curve outwards but never spread wide apart; its 6 calyx-parts are petal-like, long and narrow, each grooved down the middle; the texture is thin and fine, and smooth on the outside, while the inner surface is rough as though spread with fine meal of a slightly richer hue than the pale straw-yellow bell with its faint tinge of green. The flower hangs singly on a short, slender, terminal green stem.

After the fall of the flower the stems prolong themselves with a further succession of leaves; thus the rather conspicuous seed-pod is left hanging near the middle of the branch.

*Wild Oat.* Oakesia sessilifolia.

Found in May, in moist shade; in frequent neighborhood with the Bellwort.

The stalk, from 6 to 8 inches high, is very like its cousin Bellwort, but is more slender and bears a leaf beneath the fork of its branches; it is also greener in hue.

The oval, or long-pointed, entire, leaf is smooth above, and ridgy beneath. Of a beautiful light green color. The leaves are arranged in pairs at the flower, and alternately; they are half-clasping, and hang lightly.