THE TOAD LILY 



tricyrtis hirta 



By Willard N. Ci.ute 



NI^A1\L^' all the monocotyledonoiis plants of the North 

 Temperate zone hloom before midsummer. A few garden 

 plants, to be sure, such as the gladiolus, the blackberry lily, and 

 the day lilies prolong the blooming season well into August 

 and tile autumn crocus, the meadow saffron, and a few of the 

 true lilies may open in September, but it is left for the curious 

 toad lily to close the season in the flower garden wliile the 

 delicate ladies' tresses represents the group afield. 



The toad lily is truly the last of its kind. So late is its 

 l)l(»(»ming period that the flowers are often frozen before they 

 have had time to open. One might think that after a few 

 experiences of this kind the plant would be able to change 

 its habit somewhat. Init no amount of coaxing seems to hurry 

 it. It has always bloomed in late autmnn and apparently it 

 always will. With an entire season in which to prepare for 

 tlie great event, it joins the witch iia/el, and chrysanlhennun 

 in (lelaving the ])rocess of flowering until the very last minute. 



If tile autumn frosts hold off long enough, or it the plant 

 is artiliciall) ]>rotected. it at length puts forth a number of 

 purple-spotted flowers that suggest those of its not ton distant 

 relative the blackberry lily. The flowers are of the conven- 

 tional lilv form but are much smaller than (hose of any com- 

 mon lib-. The lateness of the flowering sea.son and the unusual 

 color-pattern nf the flowers combine to make the plant nt cnn- 

 sidcrable interest. Tnlike many other spotted flnwers, tiie 

 spots are not confini-(l t( - the d iri -lla. bm are tiiicklv spread over 

 calyx, stamens, and even the styles and stigmas. The mark- 

 ings are heaviest on the perianth, growing larger and more 



