THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 91 



Occupying much the same habitat as the bellworts are 

 found two species of Clint onia. The name most frequently 

 used for Clintonia borealis is simply "Clintonia", but others 

 are sometimes heard, such as "wild lily-of-the-valley," the 

 form of the plant suggenting the name. The slender flower 

 Stalk, rising from the rosette of rather broad, smooth leaves, 

 accounts for such names as "cow tongue" and "bear tongue." 

 "Heal-all" refers to its entirely mythical medical properties. 

 This latter name is sometimes applied to an orchid with leaves 

 of much the same shape and may have been transferred from 

 that species. The name of "dog-berry" refers to the attrac- 

 tive, but inedible bluish-black fruits. The black fruits of 

 Clintonia tnnbellitlata have earned for it the name of "dog 

 plum," the prefix, as ever, indicating worthless qualities. This 

 latter species is often known as "white clintonia" to distin- 

 guish it from the more common species with yellow flowers. 

 "Wild corn," applied to the white species, is unintelligible. 



In old gardens and along roadsides to which it has es- 

 caped one may often come upon little colonies of the "star 

 of Bethlehem" {Ornithogahim umh ell a tit in.) It is a mystery 

 why this plant is cultivated at all for the flowers are small, 

 are green on the outside, have a short blooming season and 

 remain open for only a part of the day. Perhaps its disposi- 

 tion to fend for itself explains its presence in many places 

 where it is not especially desired. Insignificant as it is, how- 

 ever, its star-shaped flowers have become associated with the 

 Nativity in its best known common name. It is also known 

 as "star flower" and "summer snowflake." The fact that it 

 closes at mid-day is echoed in such names as "nap-at-noon," 

 "sleepy-Dick" and "ten-o'clock-lady." 



The only lilywort in our flora to bear the name of 

 hyacinth is Camassia escidenta. Among frontiersmen, how- 



