Part 72

The irregularly 4-parted flower has a short tube; the upper division is erect, broad, and 3-lobed; the 3 lower divisions are long, narrow, and spreading; it has 6 stamens. In color it is a dull bluish violet, the broad division marked with two round greenish-yellow spots. The flowers grow in a thick blunt spike, and bloom spirally; the stem is enfolded about midway by a small sheathing, green leaf.

The flowers are fleeting with the day. In general lines the Pickerel-weed is full of vigor, and strong swinging curves, but there is a primitive lack of finish in its growth.

CAT-TAIL FAMILY.

TYPHACEÆ.

*Bur-reed.* Sparganium simplex.

Found along the borders of ponds, blossoming in June, July and August.

The erect, simple, stalk is round, smooth, strong, and fine in fibre; of a bright yellow-green.

The leaf is a long, narrow, green ribbon, pointed at the tip, and growing thick toward the base where it sheathes the stalk; it has a smooth surface, and exceedingly fine texture; of a beautiful grass-green color.

The small flowers are of 2 kinds in densely crowded, round heads which are threaded on a long curving flower-stem; the lower ones are the seed-bearing heads, and develop into green burs about 1 inch in diameter, the upper, stamen-bearing ones, are light and fluffy with many fine thread-like stamens, of a dull white color, tipped with gray.

One involuntarily says of this plant, How Japanese! Our Western neighbors have shown in their drawings that they appreciate the long sweeping curves and original gesture found in many water plants. The name of the genus means a fillet, and is derived from the ribbon-like leaf.

ARUM FAMILY.

ARACEÆ.

*Skunk Cabbage.* Symplocarpus fœtidus.

Found in March or early April, in damp meadows, and moist or swampy woodlands.

The leaves and hooded flower-clusters rise from the ground.

The large and conspicuous leaves, which do not unfold until the flowering season is past, vary from 1 to 2 feet in length; they are oval in shape with a blunt tip and heart-shaped base, have entire margins, firm texture, and smooth surfaces, and resemble the garden Day-Lily because of their many parallel ribs. In color a light clear green.

The unnoticeable 4-parted greenish-yellow flowers are gathered closely on a fleshy round club (that is about an inch in diameter) and enveloped by a protecting hood. This hood is large and sharp-pointed, of a very thick and leathery texture, with a smooth and dull glossy surface; it is a dull brown or mahogany color, mottled or streaked with darker purple or red. From 1 to 3 or 4 of these hood-protected flower-heads are crowded close together, along with the rolled up leaf, in the hold of several dull greenish or slightly purple leaf-like parts which serve as weather blankets wrapped about the whole plant.

After the flowers mature the hood shrivels and falls away, the blankets disappear, and the pointed leaf-bud then unfolds, the leaves pushing forth with fine springing curves. The strong odor of the plant prevents close observation, and denies to it the praise its growth deserves. In habit it is highly gregarious, and favorable meadows are thickly sprinkled with these rich-hued hoods of our earliest spring flower.

*Golden Club.* Orontium aquaticum.

Found in ponds, or standing water, in early May.

The flower-spike and leaves lie upon the water, or hold themselves just above its surface, springing on long stems from the submerged root.

The oblong, narrow leaf is thick and juicy, with an entire margin, that is conspicuously folded together and joined at the base, and a smooth surface. In color it is a rich-toned green with a bloom above, the under surface being shining and pale and much colored by fine speckles of bronze. The leaf-stem is round, porous, smooth, and bronzy.

The small, flat, indefinite flowers are inset closely upon a round club, in a smooth, curiously patterned mosaic-work of a bright golden-yellow color. This club terminates a smooth porous stem, which becomes large and is flattened on one side beneath the flowers; it is streaked with bronze beneath the water, but clear white above its surface.

“I don’t feel as if I should search for it!” said the farmer when he saw this plant for the first time.

*Green Dragon.* Arisæma Dracontium. *Dragon-root.*

Found in moist shade, in May.

The root produces usually one leaf-stem, 1 to 2 feet high, which bears the blossom-stem.

The leaflets of the compound leaf are 5 to 13 in number, in shape oblong, tapering at both ends, and entire; the surface is smooth, and a rich dark green color. The stem is smooth, round, and light green.