i20 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



of straying into new grounds by means of its numerous run- 

 ners. Others insist that the first part of the word "strawberry" 

 alludes to the custom of strewing the floor with straw in which 

 the leaves of our plant were mingled. Still others see in 

 the strawlike runners, the origin of the name. My own prefer- 

 ence is for "stray-berry." If we must accept the second expla- 

 nation, could the name not have been given because the plant 

 strews or cari)ets the ground as straw was used to cover 

 floors ? 



Included in a paragraph devoted to the strawberry-like 

 plants, might properly be the true "barren strawberry" 

 {]}'aldcnstcinia fragarioides) , whose specific name points to 

 its resemblance to the strawberry. This plant bears yellow 

 flowers, but is otherwise very strawberry-like in appearance. 

 The plant is also known as "dry strawberry." In Eastern 

 thickets there is a retiring and inconspicuous member of the 

 roseworts, Dalibarda repcns, that always reminds me of the 

 strawberries, perhaps because like them, it is close to the earth 

 and spreads by runners. The latter fact has not escaped the 

 makers of common names as the ai)pellation "Robin-runaway" 

 attests. The plant is usually known as "false violet" since 

 the leaves are roundish and somewhat suggestive of those of 

 violets. Another name is "dewdrop" but neither this nor the 

 others with which it has been distinguished seems at all appro- 

 |)riate. 



In Angu^t, in nianv New England meadows, the true 

 "hardback" {S/vrara toDwiitosa) ap])cars, lifting its 

 spires of tiny rose-jjurple flowers above the surroumbng \ ege- 

 tatioii. Earlier in the season it was in evidence for (|uite an- 

 other reason, for its hard stems make it well known to the 

 mower. Those who have seen the plant at its best will agree 

 to the appropriateness of such names as "steeple bush." "rosy 

 bush." and "meadow sweet." tlnniGrh tbev mav be sure the last 



