272 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SWAMP 



It was while walking on one of the roads in Suffern, New 

 York, that I first found this strikingly handsome flower growing 

 to a height of 3 or 4 feet, with the sword-shaped leaves of the 

 flower-de-luce, the stem crowned with small lily-like blossoms. 

 I nevertheless perceived that it was not a lily. An enlarged 

 central column came up through the ovary, and, the outside cov- 

 ering falling away, the round, juicy seeds clung to this receptacle 

 and formed a very clever imitation of a blackberry. The 6 divi- 

 sions of the flower perianth are deeply and regularl}^ cut nearly 

 to the base of the flower-tube, spreading and turning somewhat 

 backward. After flowering they twist together and remain with- 

 ered above the ovary. They are of a deep-orange tint, speckled 

 with purplish, irregular spots. Originally from China, here and 

 there escaped from gardens, from southern New York to Georgia 

 and westward. 



32. Star-of-Bethlehem 



Ornithogalum umbellatum ("birds' milk," from color of 

 flowers). — Family, Lily. Color, white. Leaves, long, narrow, 

 i-ribbed, grass-like, fleshy, equal to or longer than the flower- 

 stems. Time, May, June. 



A pretty, pure white flower, with 6 spreading sepals, opening 

 in sunshine, green in the middle on the under side. Flowers 

 pedicelled, each with a bract, clustered on the summit of the 

 scape, 5 to 12 inches high. The root is a coated bulb. Escaped 

 from gardens, and found wild ; quite common from Massachu- 

 setts to Virginia, in grassy lawns, side by side with the grape- 

 hyacinth. 



33. Drooping Star-of-Bethlehem 



O. nufans has flowers in nodding racemes, with stout pedi- 

 cels and narrow, pointed bracts. A garden species found wild 

 in eastern Pennsylvania. 



34. Grape-hyacinth. Baby's-breath 



Muscari boiryoldes. — Family, Lily. Color, deep indigo 

 blue. Leaves, long and narrow. Time, April, May. 



