Lily Family. — 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.
The flower is smaller than the Bellwort blossom, and the 3-parted pale yellow pistil protrudes conspicuously. The color is pale straw-yellow. The bell hangs on a slender stem that springs from beneath a leaf, on the underside of the branch.
Seldom more than one of these shy bells is found hiding under a branch. Possibly the tips curve outward more than those of the Bellwort’s flower.
| Two-leaved Solomon’s Seal. | Smilacina trifolia. |
| False little Solomon’s Seal. | |
| Two-leaved Smilax. |
Found in the woods during May.
The stalk, which grows from 3 to 6 inches in height, is round, and grooved, and usually bears 2 leaves. Its color is pale green, sometimes tinged with dull red.
The oval leaf is heart-shaped at the base where it partly clasps the stalk; the margin is entire, and the ribs are parallel, the texture is fine, and the surface is smooth and shining. In color, a light yellowish-green. Two or three leaves occur on the plant, alternately placed.
The flower is quite small, and white, with 4 petal-like parts, 4 stamens, and 1 pistil. The flowers are fragrant, and very numerous, clustered in a short, close terminal spike.
In common with others of the small Smilaxes the strong-fibred stem has a somewhat zigzag gesture. It looks an honest little plant, not at all deserving the opprobrious epithet, “false,” that has been given it.
| Solomon Zigzag. | Smilacina racemosa. |
| False Spikenard. |
Found in June, in moist woods and brookside copses.
The leafy stalk (from 1 to 2 feet high) is oblique and zigzag in gesture; it has a strong fibre, and a smooth surface, and is light green.
The leaf is oval—long in proportion to its width,—tapering to a slender tip, with an entire and much ruffled margin, and 3 noticeable ribs; the surface is finely downy; the color a strong, vigorous green. The leaves have almost no stem at all, and are placed alternately along the stalk.
The flower is small, with 6 petal-like parts and 6 stamens, all greenish white. Many flowers are gathered in a branching cluster upon the end of the leafy curving stalk.
The berries are pale red, speckled with dark. Gray’s Manual in speaking of this genus says its name is a diminution of Smilax, “to which, however, these plants bear little resemblance.” For a similar reason, perhaps, this plant is called “false” after the true Spikenard!
Carrion Flower. Smilax herbacea.
Found in moist meadows, along river banks, and in wayside thickets in June.
The round, smooth, tough, green stalk grows upward at first, but soon swings over to one side with a strong curve, leaning on surrounding plants for support, and further assisting its progress by means of many small twining tendrils.
The large leaf is nearly round, and somewhat heart-shaped at the base; it has an entire edge, and strongly marked parallel ribs; though thin, it is tough, and has a smooth, shining surface, and a bright green color. The leaves are alternate at short intervals, almost crowded. The tendrils spring from the angles of the leaves.
The small flower has its parts in threes, with twice three stamens; it is dull light green in color. Very many flowers, some 20 to 40, on short flower-stems, are gathered together in a round head; this head is on the end of a stem from 4 to 6 or more inches long. The flowers exhale a disagreeable odor which gives rise to its folk-name.
The fruit is a round blue-black berry; as it has not the objectionable odor of the flower, the vine becomes more attractive in its fruiting than in its blossoming season.
| False Hellebore. | Veratrum viride. |
| Indian Poke. | |
| Poor Annie. |
Found blossoming in June, in wet hollows, and along the borders of upland streams.
Its simple, erect stalk, growing from 2 to 4 feet high, is very leafy; it is round, and stout, an inch or more in diameter at the base; smooth, and green.
The very large leaf, from 10 to 12 inches long, is broadly oval, tapering at the tip, and deeply pleated on its many parallel ribs; the surface is finely downy, especially beneath; in color a bright grass green.
The flower is about three fourths of an inch across; the 6 spreading petal-like parts are leaf-like in texture, and of a yellowish-green color. The flowers, growing on very short foot-stems, with a narrow leaf (or bract) to each one, are thickly set in a pyramidal cluster, on the top of the leafy stalk.
The juice, particularly that of the root, is said to be a strong acrid poison. It is a plant of splendid vigor, and curves; in early spring, before the twiggery shows any green, it pushes up from the dark earth a large, lush, green bud, charged to the full with the impulse of growth; later its leafage becomes more or less mingled with that of its neighbors, and so does not receive the recognition it deserves for its striking qualities.
Indian Cucumber-root. Medeola Virginiana.
Found in moist rich woods, during June.
The slender, smooth, green stalk varies from 1 to 3 feet in height; a light fleecy wool is loosely caught around it.
The oblong leaf tapers at both ends, it is 3-ribbed, and the margin is entire; its color is a fresh full green. The leaves clasp the stalk, and are set in two whorls, of 3 to 9 in number.
The flower is inconspicuous on account of its light greenish color; its 3 petals and 3 calyx-parts are long, narrow, and much recurved; the 6 stamens are colored a dark crimson-red, with brown tips, and the 3 divisions of the pistil are long and spreading. Three or four blossoms on their slender stems hang beneath the upper whorl of leaves.
The green, spidery flower of the Medeola is curious rather than pretty,—the charm of the plant lies in the slender stalk, with its two whorls of fine green leaves lightly poised about it. When the dark blue-black berry is ripe its stem takes on an upward curve, and at about the same time a crimson-red spot appears at the base of the leaves.
| Great Solomon’s Seal. | Polygonatum giganteum. |
| Giant Solomon’s Seal. |
Found on rich banks, in partial shade, during June.
The single leafy stalk grows from 3 to 8 feet high; at first it stands erect, but later the tip curves over and downward; it is tough-fibred, smooth and fine in surface, and green.
The large broadly oval leaf is sometimes 6 inches long and 3 broad; it is pointed at the tip, and partly clasps the stalk at its base; the margin is entire, the ribs parallel and deeply marked, and the texture is fine, while the surface is smooth. In color it is a cool dark green. The leaves occur alternately along the stalk.
The tubular flower is from ½ an inch to about ¾ of an inch long, and spreads into 6 divisions. The color is pale green, the tips of the 6 stamens which first show in the opening of the flower are pale straw-color. The flowers swing on slender stems, from the angles of the leaves, in clusters of two or three (or sometimes singly,) forming a row upon the curving stalk.
Following the flower-bells come the globular blue-black berries, about the size of a pea; they are fully as charming as the blossoms, but seldom remain long on the stalk, since they are fully appreciated by the birds who devour them quickly. This is a plant of fine gesture, and splendid curves, too large to be figured full-size upon the accompanying plate.
| Nodding Lily. | Lilium Canadense. |
| Field Lily. |
Found in grass fields, and moist meadows, during July.
The single, leafy, and smooth stalk is 2 or 3, or more, feet high. In color it is green, often inclined to take on a dull reddish-brown hue near the flowers.
The leaf is long, pointed at the tip, and clasping the stalk at the base; it is of strong fibre; in color a vigorous green. The leaves are inclined to grow in whorls about the stalk, but are often placed irregularly near the top.
The large and spreading, bell-shaped flower is formed of 6 petal-like parts, whose tips are pointed, and curved a trifle,—3 of the parts have prominent ribs down the middle; it is orange-yellow in color, on the inside speckled with many small reddish-brown dots. The 6 stamens and the club-shaped pistil have dull tawny-orange or reddish-brown tips. From 1 to 3, or more, flowers swing nodding on their short stems from the top of the stalk.
When the orange bells of the Field Lily may be seen gaily nodding here and there just above the feathers of the red-top grass in level meadows, midsummer has come in.
| Flame Lily. | Lilium Philadelphicum. |
| Wood Lily. |
Found in upland meadows, woods, and along copse-borders in July.
The stalk grows from 1 to 2 feet high; it is single, leafy, and strong-fibred and smooth; in color a purplish-green.
The leaf is long, narrow, and pointed, of a firm strong texture, and smooth surface. The color is a fall-toned green. The leaves are placed upon the stalk, in whorls of 5 or more, with an occasional one, escaping regularity, lodged between.
The 6 petal-like parts of the large flower-bell are narrowed at their bases into little stems; 3 of the parts have pronounced midribs. The color of this Lily is orange-red, or flame, irregularly marked on the inside with large spots of reddish brown; the 6 stamens, and the pistil, have reddish-brown tips. Usually a single flower, but sometimes two, on slender stems, are erect upon the top of the stalk.
While the general direction of the stalk is upright the flower sways from side to side with a free grace of movement. Sometimes a single plant will stray into some little open clearing of a lonely wood where its flame warms the whole space; or again its bell swings out from the rocky slope of a mountain pasture. Near the seaboard it grows in communities, where its color, intensified by the sea air, gives it the folk-name of “Flame Lily.” The plant is said to be especially indifferent to drought.