1 28 Bog-Trotting for OrcHids 



The names of all plants among the early Greeks 

 and Romans originated from the shapes of the flowers, 

 leaves, or roots, and also from their medicinal proper- 

 ties. Dioscorides knew another species which he des- 

 ignated Satyrion Erythronmm or Dioscorides Satyrion, 

 signifying Red Satyrion, — known to the ancient Syri- 

 ans. Satyrion was the ancient ' ' shop ' ' name for 

 species of Orchis. 



Without doubt our generic name for Dog's-Tooth 

 {Erythronium) is a corruption from the Red-spotted 

 Satyrion, whose leaves became confused with Lilium 

 sylvestre. Burroughs has remarked that bulbs of lilies 

 in general lie near the surface of the ground. The 

 bulbs of Erythronium are often found at a depth of 

 eight inches or more in the earth, however, according 

 to the age of the lily. The young plant often pro- 

 duces but one leaf, and its bulb is loosely attached to 

 the moss on the surface, while the older plants pro- 

 duce two leaves, their bulbs each season sinking deeper 

 into the soil. 



Many common names have been suggested by bota- 

 nists to replace the seemingly inappropriate name of 

 Dog's-Tooth Violet. While the appended Violet is mis- 

 applied, as we observe, the name Dog's-Tooth is of an- 

 cient origin, and really has more appropriateness than 

 does the generic name Erythronium, since none of our 

 species produce red flowers. The name Dog's-Tooth, 

 therefore, was purposely dropped in the Illustrated 

 Flora of Northeastern North America, and the name 

 Yellow Adder' s-Tongue substituted for the species. 



