THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 53 



being in conspicuous whorls of three. Had the plant existed 

 in Ireland, it is probable that there would now be less discus- 

 sion as to the identity of the shamrock on the seventeenth of 

 March. Most of the species of Trillium are known as "wake- 

 robins" and this one is called the "large-flowered wake-robin." 

 The original "wake-robin" is the "cuckoo-pint" {Arum macu- 

 latum) of Europe. This latter species has three-parted leaves 

 which seems to have been warrant enough for the transfer of 

 the common name to our plant by the early colonists, regardless 

 of the numerous differences between the species. 



The dull, red flowers of Trillium erectum are so out of 

 the usual order that they have attracted the attention of even 

 the unbotanical, as numerous common names attest. Among 

 these are "red trillium," "purple trillium," "nose-bleed," and 

 "red benjamins." The word "benjamin" appears to have 

 been derived from benzoin through benjoin. Our plant, is of 

 course, only distantly related to the true benzoin but its use in 

 medicine may have suggested its name. The plant once had 

 some repute among the Indians for medicinal qualities, hence 

 "squaw-root," "birth-root" and its variants "beth-root" and 

 "bath-root." The species is also called "shamrock" in allusion 

 to its three leaves. The odor of the flowers, suggesting that 

 of a wet dog, is responsible for "ill-scented trillium" and "dog- 

 flower." I am at a loss to account for such names as "lamb's 

 quarters," "bumble-bee-root," "true-love" and "orange blos- 

 soms." "Herb Paris" is a misnomer. The plant entitled to 

 this name is Paris quadrifolia of Europe, a member of the 

 trillium family. Since all the Trilliums are American, their 

 vernacular names must have been acquired or transferred 

 from other species since the country began to be settled. 



The reputed medicinal virtues of the Trilliums are again 

 reflected in such names as "cough root," "snake-bite" and 



