WILD, OR NATIVE FLOWERS. 23. 



with slightly rounded blunt spurs, the tips of the petals projecting and 

 Tather more distinctly coloured. There is a fine variety of this flower 

 with larger, more drooping bells, and of a decidedly pink shade. 



In the rich black mould of the forest, and in rather damp situations, 

 this species known by old settlers as Squirrel Corn and by others a& 

 Wood Hyacinth may be found. The sweet scent of the fresh flowers 

 has suggested the last name. The round clusters of orange bulblets 

 that are found at the base of the scape no doubt gave rise to the more 

 common name Squirrel Corn. Whether these grain-like looking, 

 bulbs are eaten by the little ground squirrels, I do not know, the fact 

 depends upon the authority of the Indians and old woodsmen, so w& 

 assume it is correct. 



In studying the habits of this and the next species of the genus 

 Dicentra, I have noticed some peculiarities of growth in these interesting 

 plants which appear to have escaped the attention of the more learned 

 botanical writers. One thing may here be mentioned, which is, the total 

 and very rapid disappearance of the whole plant, directly the flower has. 

 perfected and ripened the seed, which is about a month after the plant 

 has bloomed. The fine and elegantly dissected compound leaves wither 

 away, leaving not a wreck behind to mark where the plant had grown ;. 

 delicate seedlings, indeed, may be detected near where the older plant 

 stood, and a few golden bulblets may be found near by, under the 

 mould, but not a vestige of the original plant remains. These golden 

 slightly flattened bulbs are intensely bitter but not acrid or biting. I 

 think the tiny seedhngs are not the offspring of these bulbs but ol the 

 real seed — yet the bulbs will vegetate and produce living plants, as irt 

 the Tiger Lily. 



All the species flourish under cultivation, and become very 

 ornamental early border flowers ; but care should be taken to plant 

 them in rich black vegetable mould, the native soil of their forest 

 haunts. 



This family contains another very charming species, tD which the 

 outlandish and vulgar name of " Dutchman's Breeches " has been given, 

 and I am sorry to s.xy his bejn retain ii in Dr. Gray's manual. A 

 far prettier and more appropriate, because descriptive nam* wjuld 

 be that of 



Flv-Flower — Dicentfa Cucidlaria (D. C.) 



the diverging nectaries taking just the angle of the wings of the Deer. 

 Fly when spread for flight, and the brown tips of the four petals give the 

 semblance of the head of the insect. The delicate pale primrose-tinted 



