ELLISIA (Wild Tomato. Nyctclea) 

 Ellisia nyctelea L. 



May - June It is mid-May when tlu- Kllisia l)looins. Mid-May. and the 

 Deep woods warbler migration is passing its peak. There already are 

 young robins out of the April nests, and orioles are Imild- 

 ing in the elms. High spring, almost the end of May, almost June. For 

 the first time in many months the wocxls are deeply shaded. This dis- 

 courages the growth of many plants, but a few, like the little Ellisia, 

 seem not to re(|nire much sunlight. 



Now when tiie onei' ni'at lloor ot the woods grows dense with green- 

 er)-, there come the little tattered, weak-kneed plants of the Ellisia, or 

 nyctelea. Insignificant, inconspicuous, not at all exciting, the little Ellisia 

 spreads its watery little, deejily cut leaves with their widely scattered 

 long hairs and weak, watery stems. It is prostrate on the grounil or leans 

 for support against sturdier ])lants, and opens a few little buds. 



The llowcrs arc palest lavender-piiik or white with five pctiils, and 

 remind one somewhat of the leaser wild geraniums. The calyx is large 

 and almost engulfs the Ibnver. WbtMi tliis is past and the setxi fonns, the 

 calyx remains as a sauicr beneath the doidde green fruit. This is the 

 little "wild tomato" whieh gives the Ellisia its conunonest name. The 

 whole plant, ])erhaps. might be compared w ith the a]»|)earance of a weak 

 tomato seedling in despair of its life. 



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