226 



Minnesota Plant Life. 



deptlis of tiie forest. One interestiiii;- form, known as alkali- 

 grass, grows on the high prairies in the western part of the state. 

 The onions are found in six ditYerent varieties and are best de- 

 veloped in the i)rairie region of ^Minnesota, but they occur also 

 in the forests. 



The hellebore is notable as the source of the alkaloid vcra- 

 tritic, a valuable medicinal compound. The bellworts, of which 

 there are three varieties, are connnon and attractive flowers 

 of the middle spring. The onions, with their characteristic 

 bulbs, smooth in some species, in others fibrous or reticulated; 

 the tiger lilies of three sorts with their showy flowers, the dog's- 

 tooth violets of three \arieties with 

 their peculiarly spotted leaves and 

 white or yellow flowers are all familiar 

 and common forms. The peculiar 

 hal)it of the Solomon's seals which 

 sei)arate the erect stems of the year 

 from the strong perennial subterra- 

 nean rootstocks in such manner as to 

 gi\e rise to circidar scars, has occa- 

 sioned the connnon name. Asparagus 

 which grows wild in Minnesota ditifers 

 from the rest of the family in being 

 largely devoid of leaves, the flue green 

 foliage consisting of small starch-mak- 

 ing branches rather than true leaves. 

 Smilax. Among the lilies may be 

 included also the green briars or 

 smilaxes, noticeable for their netted 

 leaves and. in most varieties, tendril-bearing stems. Five spe- 

 cies of smilax arc known to occur in Minnesota. 'Phe flowers 

 in these plants stand in unfl)els and the fruits mature as berries 

 of a red or blue color, shading towards purple <»r black. The 

 stems, which twine or climb upon the vegetation near them, 

 arise from large swollen underground rootstocks. (hie \ariety 

 of smilax connnon in .Minnesota is (jnile destitme ot tendrils 

 and exists as an erect herb a foot or so in heiglil. v'^ome of the 

 smilaxes are \er\- bristly with prickles u])on the stems or edges 

 of the leaves, while others are smooth. 



Fk;. 101. Hluc flags. .\fteri)lio 

 tograph by Williams. 



