EARLY WILD FLOWERS, CATKINS. H 



above which measure four or five inches across ; these 

 are broad, heart-shaped, and more or less pointed. 

 The Canada wild ginger is quite 

 common northward ; its aromat- 

 ic, stinging root- 

 stock has 

 the flavor 

 of ginger. 

 While 

 we are yet 

 passing through the 

 woodland we will most 

 likely find another early 

 flower, the mandrake or 

 May apple (Podophyllum 

 peltatum) ; this blooms in 

 May. The drooping white 

 flower with half a dozen or 



, Wild Ginger. 



more petals is borne between 



two large leaves which have from five to nine lobes ; 

 the plant has also flowerless stems which bear only 

 larger leaves supported in the middle like an um- 

 brella. The fruit, which ripens in July and appears 

 like a tiny lemon an inch and a half long, is edible ; 

 but both leaves and roots are drastic and poisonous 

 so says Dr. Gray. As for the fruit, I prefer to let it 

 alone ; it is simply rank ! 



