FLORA OK THE Ll'l'EK SUsmUEUANNA. 109 



A. Canadense L. Wild Onion. Wild Garlic. Abundant on 

 moist banks, in meadows and along streams. Umbels with 

 bulblets among the flowers. Bulb small, strong-scented, tender, 

 mild to the taste, edible. Our commonest species of Allium. 

 May. 



The Star-of Bethlehem ( Ornithogalujn timbellatum ) and 



the Grape Hyacinth ( Muscari botrioides) belong here. They 

 are occasionally reported as escapes, but probably do not per- 

 sist long in the wild state. 



HEMEROCALLIS L 



H. fulva L. Day Lily. Common throughout as an escape that 

 has become well naturalized. Found along roadsides, banks of 

 streams, etc. Flowers large, dull red, several on each scape. 



The Lily-of-the- Valley ( Convallaria majalis ) is occasion- 

 ally found as an escape but apparently does not spread, al- 

 though persisting for many years on the sites of old dwellings. 



POLYGONATUM Adans. 



P. biflorum (Walt.) Ell. Solomon's Seal. Common in moist, 

 rich woods, thickets and ravines. Rootstock thick, knotted, 

 creeping, marked with scars where the stems of previous years 

 have been. Stem two feet or more high, somewhat drooping; 

 leaves ovate oblong, nearly sessile ; flowers usually in pairs from 

 the axils of the leaves. In early spring the tips of the young 

 shoots are gathered and used like asparagus. May. 



P. biflorum commutatum ( R. & S.) Morong. Great Solo- 

 mon's Seal. Common on the banks of the larger streams 

 throughout our range. In appearance much like the preceding, 

 except that it is very much larger. ( P. gtganteum Dietrich.) 



ASPARAGUS L. 



A. officinalis L. Asparagus. Not uncommon throughout in 

 fields, meadows and waste grounds. An escape from cultiva- 

 tion that is well naturalized. 



VAGNERA Adans. 



V. racemosa (L.) Morong. False Solomon's Seal. Wild 

 Spikenard. Common in moist, rich woods and thickets. Plant 



