BLUE AND PURPLE WILD FLOWERS 



shaped petals are a little longer than the sepals, and 

 spread open nearly flat. The stamens have very con- 

 spicuous whitish anthers, and a prominent, purplish 

 pistil. Singularly enough, the rank odour emitted by 

 the flowers attracts the green fly, so commonly found 

 wherever tainted or putrid meat and fish are exposed. 

 The purplish oval fruit is often one inch long. The 

 flowers vary, and are frequently pinkish, greenish or 

 even white. Strange, too, that the dainty, chaste, and 

 fragrant Lily of the Valley and this coarse-scented plant 

 should belong to the same family. The astringent root 

 of this species was highly regarded as a medicine by 

 the Indians and the early settlers. It is still known as 

 Bethwort, and is used as a tonic, and as a remedy for 

 coughs and other throat afflictions. The plant blos- 

 soms from April to June in damp, rich, shady woods 

 from North Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri, north- 

 ward into Canada. Also in Japan. 



LARGER BLUE FLAG. BLUE IRIS. FLEUR-DE-LIS 



Iris versicolor. Iris Family. 



The Iris, famous in the history of France, is named 

 after the Greek god of the rainbow, which its various 

 colours aptly suggest. It was considered peculiarly 

 sacred in olden days, and seems to enjoy a somewhat 

 classical dignity even to-day. Ruskin says that it is 

 "the flower of chivalry" and has a "sword for its leaf, 

 and a lily for its heart," but Thoreau, with less gracious- 

 ness considered it "too showy and gaudy, like some 

 women's bonnets!" The Indians, however, viewed it 



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