LILY FAMILY. Ullacew. 



9 



A much smaller species than the fore- 

 going, with a very small but pretty starry 

 cluster of white flowers at the tip of the 

 stem. The leaves, light blue-green and 

 very firm, clasp the zigzag stem. The 

 flower is \ inch wide. The berries, which 

 are few, are at first spotted and finally 

 dull ruby-red. 8-16 inches high. Moist banks and 

 meadows. Me., south to N. J., and west. 

 Three-leaved A still smaller species, with generally 



False Solo- three leaves, but sometimes two or even 

 four, tapering to a sheathing base ; flowers 

 smaller than those of the preceding spe- 

 cies, and the berries red like those of 

 the next species. 2-6 inches high. In 

 bogs or wet woods. Me., south to Penn., 

 west to Mich. 



Although the resemblance of Smilacina trifolia to 

 Maianthemum Canadense (the next species described) is 

 close, the differences are easily detected by a close ob- 

 server. The (usually) three leaves of Smilacina tri folia 

 clasp the stem but are in no way heart-shaped at the 

 base. This species also has six sepals and as many 

 stamens, and the whole plant is invariably smooth, not 

 fine-hairy as is sometimes the case with the next species. 

 The berries of Smilacina and Maianthemum are closely 

 similar, but those of Smilacina stellata are in a measure 

 harder, more opaque than any of the others, and cer- 

 tainly not blackish, as described in Gray's Manual, 6th 

 Edition, but dull red. 



False Solo- 



tnon's Seal 



Smilacina 



stellata 



White 



May-early 



June 



tnon's Seal 



Smilacina 



trifolia 



White 



May-early 



June 



32 



