WILD FLOWERS OF NEW YORK 53 



Lily of the Valley Family 



Convallariaceae 

 Yellow Clintonia; Dogberry 



Clinton ia borealis (Aiton) Rafinesque 



Plate 17 



Flowering scape or stem 6 to 15 inches high, with two to five (usually 

 three), oval, oblong or obovate, thin, glossy green leaves at the base, their 

 petioles sheathing the base of the stem which arises from a slender root- 

 stock. Leaves ciliate, 5 to 8 inches long, and i^ to 3I inches wide. Flowers 

 three to six, forming an umbel at the top of the stem, sometimes a secondary 

 cluster of flowers below the top, drooping, greenish yellow, three-fourths 

 to I inch long, on pedicels about as long as the flowers; perianth segments 

 distinct, six in number, eqvial and somewhat spreading, the six stamens 

 about as long as the perianth. Fruit an oval, dark blue, shining berry 

 about one-fourth of an inch in diameter. 



In moist woods and thickets, Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to 

 North Carolina and Wisconsin. Very common in the rich, moist wood- 

 lands of northern New York, but rare or absent from the coastal region. 

 Flowering from the latter part of May until the last of June. The fruit 

 ripe in September. 



The White Clintonia (Clintonia u m b e 1 1 u 1 a t a (Michaux) 

 Torrey), with smaller white flowers, not drooping, and black berries, leaves 

 and scapes more pubescent bvit otherwise similar, which is common in the 

 southern Appalachians, reaches New York in the southwestern counties 

 of the State. 



Wild or False Spikenard; False Solomon's-seal 

 Vagiiei'u racemosa (Linnaeus) Morong 



Plate 18 



Stem slender or stout, erect or ascending, sometimes zigzag, i to 3 feet 

 tall, simple, bearing numerous alternate, sessile or nearly sessile oblong- 

 lanceolate or oval, acuminate leaves, 3 to 6 inches long, i to 3 inches wide, 



