YELLOW AND ORANGE WILD FLOWERS 



six or eight inches below the surface. The plant 

 is complete with two, flat, fleshy, long, pointed oval, 

 pale green leaves of unequal length. They are smooth 

 and shiny, and are generally marbled with dull reddish 

 or purplish markings. At first, one might think that 

 the stained effect was produced by frost. This mot- 

 tled effect of the leaves suggests the appearance of a 

 snake's skin, and the pipe-like flower extending 

 therefrom, is supposed to justify the name of Yellow 

 Adder's Tongue. In some localities, where the earliest 

 trout fishing is eagerly sought, this delightful spring 

 beauty is popularly known as the Trout Lily, and its 

 speckled leaves and blossoms are heralded as a signal 

 that another speckled beauty, the brook trout, has 

 appeared. The erect, ear-like appearance of the two 

 leaves, together with their peculiar markings, caused 

 John Burroughs to christen this plant the Fawn Lily. 

 The flowers and leaves begin to wilt almost as soon 

 as they are picked. The former revive nicely when 

 placed in water, but the leaves are slower in recovering 

 the shock. Soon after the flowering season, the leaves 

 begin to fade, and by July scarcely a trace of them is 

 to be seen. This species is found scattered in groups 

 and colonies in abundance from Nova Scotia to Ontario 

 and Minnesota, south to Florida, Missouri and Arkan- 

 sas, during March, April, and May. Somewhat far- 

 ther west it is replaced by a similar species with nar- 

 rower and less mottled leaves, and white or pinkish- 

 white flowers, that are not commonly found eastward. 

 The pistil has three short, spreading tips, or stigmas. 



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