102 WILD FLOWER FAMILIES 



downward, the stamens near the petals and the 

 pistil projecting straight out from the center, 

 appearing as a prolongation of the blossom stem. 



The plant as a whole is a charming example of 

 that harmonious asymmetry dear to the art of 

 the Japanese. The colors also are in harmony 

 with the simple outline of the plant : the leaves are 

 of varying shades of green, mottled with rather 

 indistinct markings of a dull whitish color or of 

 a faint purplish hue, w^hile the blossom is a lovely 

 yellow, having occasionally a purplish tinge. 



The Dog's-tooth Violet, often called also the 

 Adder's Tongue, is one of our earliest flowers, 

 appearing in April and lasting well into May. 

 From the situations where it is most commonly 

 found one would think that it loved the music of 

 the little rivers, lingering near to listen to the 

 gladsome songs of these " in the season of their 

 prosperity." But it also habitually occurs in 

 open groves and even along the borders of the 

 forest. In rainy weather and at night the flowers 

 close, but they open again upon the appearance 

 of sunshine and are said to turn on their stalks to 

 follow the sun. The blossoms are freely visited 

 by many bees, by which cross-pollination seems to 

 be very generally brought about. 



In the western states the White Adder's 

 Tongue is found. This plant bears a general re- 

 semblance to the yellow species but it has much 



