Red 



The meaning of the generic title is also doubtful. Gray de- 

 rives it from aquilegus — water-drawing, but gives no further ex- 

 planation, while other writers claim that it is from aqtiila, an 

 eagle, seeing a likeness to the talons of an eagle in the curved 

 nectaries. 



WAKE ROBIN. BIRTHROOT. 



Trillium erectum. Lily Family. 



Stem. — Stout; from a tuber-like rootstock. Leaves. — Broadly ovate; 

 three in a whorl a short distance below the flower. Flower. — Single ; termi- 

 nal ; usually purplish red, occasionally whitish, pinkish, or greenish ; on an 

 erect or somewhat inclined flower-stalk. Calyx. — Of three green spreading 

 sepals. Corolla. — Of three large lance-shaped petals. Stamens. — Six. 

 Pistil. — One, with three large spreading stigmas. Fruit. — A large, ovate, 

 six-angled reddish berry. 



This wake robin is one of the few self-assertive flowers of the 

 early year. Its contemporaries act as if somewhat uncertain as 

 to whether the spring had really come to stay, but no such lack 

 of confidence possesses our brilliant young friend, who almost 

 flaunts her lurid petals in our faces, as if to force upon us the 

 welcome news that the time of birds and flowers is at hand. 

 Pretty and suggestive as is the common name, it is hardly appro- 

 priate, as the robins have been on the alert for many days before 

 our flower unfurls its crimson signal. Its odor is most un- 

 pleasant. Its reddish fruit is noticeable in the woods of late 

 summer. 



The sessile trillium, T. sessile, has no separate flower-stalk, 

 its red or greenish blossom being set close to the stem leaves. It»o 

 petals are narrower, and its leaves are often blotched or spotted. 

 Its berry is globular, six-angled, and red or purplish. 



The wake robins are native to North America, only one 

 species being found just beyond the boundaries in the Russian 

 territory. 



256 



