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Bloodroot 



W Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) 

 Poppy Family (Papaveraceae) 



This is one of the delights of an early spring hike in rich woods. 

 It is one of our few wildflowers which typically has eight pet- 

 als. The petals are attached only slightly to the floral recepta- 

 cle, so that after a good wind or rain the petals are on the 

 ground, giving a relatively short life to the flower. Most parts 

 of the plants have an orange-red juice, giving the common 

 name. It is a member of the poppy family, whose members are 

 often characterized by a colored juice. Bloodroot typically 

 associates with sugar maple, red oak, spring beauty, Dutch- 

 man's breeches, toothwort, wild geranium, and hepatica. 



■$? Jack-In-The-Pulpit (Arisaema atrorubens) 

 Arum Family (Araceae) 



Sometimes this plant is considered to be the same species as 

 one occurring farther east, in which case the scientific name 

 becomes Arisaema triphyllum. It is easily identified from any- 

 thing else in our area by the striped green hood which arches 

 over a club-shaped organ (the "jack") known as a spadix. At 

 the bottom of this spadix occurs the tiny flower (either male or 

 female). We are more familiar with the plants in the cool 

 spring season than in the warmer season to follow; the re- 

 latively non-showy flower is well known, but the brilliant red 

 fruit clusters occurring later in the season are less familiar. 



# May Apple ( Podophyllum peltatum) 

 Barberry Family (Berberidaceae) 



The name of this plant is misleading, as it implies the fruit 

 ripes in May; actually it ripens much earlier. It is the flower 

 which is observed in May, and it is often missed on spring hikes 

 because it hides under the two "umbrellas" which are so famil- 

 iar in the woods. Plants with a single umbrella-leaf do not 

 flower. The flowers are large, more than two inches across, 

 white, and with an absolutely delightful fragrance reminding 

 one of fresh fruit. The colonies are circular, and spread out- 

 ward each year; it would be interesting to determine how 

 rapidly a colony enlarges from year to year. The may apple has 

 long been used in folk medicine for a variety of complaints; 

 recently extracts of the plant have been shown to inhibit the 

 growth of certain tumors in laboratory animals. 



