90 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



the specific name. The "star-flowered" or "starry Solomon's 

 seal" is the only other species to have a common name. It is 

 also known as "false Solomon's seal." All the plants named 

 "Solomon's seal" have the peculiaritv when growinq' in colo- 

 nies of hending their stems in the same direction, with a 

 noticeable ladder-like arrangement of the leaves, but they 

 seem to have escaped the appellation of "Jacob's ladder." 



The plants of one lily-like genus are known as "bellworts" 

 from their drooping yellow flowers. The most conspicuous is 

 Uvnlaria grandiflorcu with large pendant bells of pale yellow- 

 in which the perianth segments are more or less twisted. The 

 names of "straw lily" and "straw flower" are not inappropri- 

 ate. Another species, U. scssili folia, is kncnvn as wild oats, 

 the name probably referring to the cok)r of the flower, though 

 this or any other part of the plant has only the remotest 

 resemblance to oats. The idea persists, however, for the same 

 name is often bestowed upon L\ pcrfoliata th<,>ugh this latter j 

 species is more frequently known as the "mealy bellwort" I 

 from the fact that the interior of the perianth is sprinkled 

 with shining yellow grains. The name "straw bell" is appro- 

 priate enough l)nl "Mohawk weed" is a puzzle. Possibly 

 some early chronicler confused this species with a dift'erent 

 plant used by the Indians. Members of the genera Dispornm 

 and Strcptof<us are often confused with these ])lants when 

 not in blcjom. Some of them, though fairly common, have 

 no common names in the vernacular though they may have 

 in the books. Species of b^th genera are si^melimcs called 

 "twisted stalk" in allusion to the bent petlicels, and they also 

 bear the name of "liver berry" though it is not clear whether 

 the name refers to the fruits, which are not liver colored, 

 or to some reputed medicinal virtue of the plants themselves. 



