IN LEAFY JUNE. 175 



the paint box. Let us examine a few which are near 

 at hand. 



One of the most beautiful bright light greens 

 which we will see in the swamp beside the road is 

 that of the Indian poke ( Veratrum viride)* with its 

 spreading, broad, corrugated leaves. Their green is 

 a hundred tones lighter than that of any tree, and 

 ten times purer. All the beauty of color which 

 characterizes this plant in late May or early June 

 will be seen now ; in midsummer it sends up an un- 

 interesting spike of green flowers, and shortly after 

 blackens and dies. 



Another beautiful plant which is sure to decorate 

 the river's brink this month is the unfortunate car- 

 rion flower (Smilax herbacea\ a charmingly decora- 

 tive vine doomed to complete disfavor because of the 

 blossom's putrid odor. The leaves are bright, shiny 

 light green, and the yellow-green flowers, now in 

 bloom, have very long stems ; they are inconspicuous 

 but pretty. If, somewhere on the road, we imagine 

 we are passing a dead rat and at the same time spy a 

 beautiful vine-covered thicket, we are justified in 

 arriving at but one conclusion carrion flower ! The 

 vine I have found very common in northern New 

 Jersey and in the southwestern region of the Cats- 



* Its roots yield a rank poison. 



