WHITE 



ers and large leaves; but when in September the tall purple 

 stems rear themselves above their neighbors in the roadside 

 thicket, the leaves look as though stained with wine, and the 

 long clusters of rich dark berries hang heavily from the branches, 

 we cannot but admire its independent beauty. The berries serve 

 as food for the birds. A tincture of them at one time acquired 

 some reputation as a remedy for rheumatism. In Pennsylvania 

 they have been used with whiskey to make a so-called " port- 

 wine. ' ' From their dark juice arose the name of ' ' red-ink 

 plant," which is common in some places. The large roots are 

 poisonous, but the acrid young shoots are rendered harmless by 

 boiling, and are eaten like asparagus, being quite as good, I have 

 been told by country people. 



Despite the difference in the spelling of the names, it has 

 been suggested that the plant was called after President Polk. 

 This is most improbable, as it was common throughout the 

 country long before his birth, and its twigs are said to have been 

 plucked and worn by his followers during his campaign for the 

 presidency. 



BUNCH FLOWER. 



Melanthium Virginicum. Lily Family. 



Stem. Three to five feet high ; rather slender ; leafy. Leaves. Linear. 

 Flowers. Greenish yellow turning brown ; in a rather dense panicle. Per- 

 ianth. Of six somewhat heart-shaped, petal-like sepals raised on slender 

 claws, each one bearing two dark glands at base. Stamens. Six. Pistil, 

 ^One, with three styles. 



This plant derives its name from the way in which the small 

 flowers are bunched or crowded together on top of the tall stems. 

 Usually the lower flowers are staminate ; the upper pistillate. 



It grows in wet meadows from Rhode Island to Florida, and 

 blossoms from June to August. 



