MISCELLANEOUS 



WILD GINGER. 



Asarum Canadense. Birthwort Family. 



Leaves. — One or two on each plant ; kidney or heart-shaped ; fuzzy ; 

 long-stalked. Flowers. — Dull purplish-brown ; solitary ; close to the ground 

 on a short flower-stalk from the fork of the leaves. Calyx. — Three-cleft ; 

 bell-shaped. Corolla. — None. Stamens. — Twelve. Pistil. — One, with a 

 thick style and six thick, radiating stigmas. 



Certain flowers might be grouped under the head of '' vege- 

 table cranks." Here would be classed the evening primrose, 

 which only opens at night, the closed gentian, which never 

 opens at all, and the wild ginger, whose odd, unlovely flower 

 seeks protection beneath its long-stemmed fuzzy leaves, and hides 

 its head upon the ground as if unwilling to challenge comparison 

 with its more brilliant brethren. Unless already familiar with 

 this plant there is nothing to tell one when it has reached its 

 flowering season ; and many a wanderer through the rocky 

 woods in early May quite overlooks its shy, shamefaced blos- 

 som. 



The ginger-like flavor of the rootstock is responsible for its 

 common name. It grows wild in many parts of Europe and is 

 cultivated in England, where at one time it was considered a 

 remedy for headache and deafness. 



JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT. INDIAN TURNIP. 



Ariscema triphyllum. Arum Family. 



Scape. — Terminated by a hood-like leaf or spathe. Leaves. — Generally 

 two; each divided into three leaflets. Floivers. — Small and inconspicuous ; 

 packed about the lower part of the fleshy spike or spadix which is shielded 

 by the spathe. Fruit. — A bright scarlet berry which is packed upon the 

 spadix with many others. 



These quaint little preachers, ensconced in their delicate pul- 

 pits, are well known to all who love the woods in early spring 

 Sometimes these "■ pulpits " are of a light green, veined with a 

 deeper tint ; again they are stained with purple. This difTer- 



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