Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 49 



WILD SPIKENARD (Smilacina racemosa) is quite 

 an imposing plant, with its long, curving, zig- 

 zag stem, its many light green deeply ribbed leaves 

 and its feathery terminal flower clusters. 



The white flowers are tiny but perfect, with a 6- 

 parted perianth, six slender stamens and a short, 

 thick style. The stem is rather angular and attains 

 a length of from 1 to 3 feet; alternating along it are 

 the large, oval, sharply pointed leaves, with parallel 

 ribs and wavy edge. The perennial rootstalk is thick 

 and fleshy. Spikenard is quite abundant in most 

 rich, uncleared ground, flowering in May and June, 

 from Me. to Minn, southwards. 



FALSE SOLOMON'S SEAL (Smilacina stellata) 

 bears some resemblance to the last species, but the 

 flowers are much larger and few in number, usually 

 only six or eight terminating the zigzag stem. The 

 leaves are broader at the bases and slightly clasp the 

 stem, whereas those of the last species have very 

 short stems. It grows commonly, but not as much so 

 as the last, on moist banks and in meadows, from Me. 

 to Minn, and southwards. 



ASPARAGUS (Asparagus officinalis) (EURO- 

 PEAN), 



This is the common garden Asparagus that is sold 

 in markets throughout the land. Few would think 

 of it as belonging to the beautiful lily family but such 

 is the case. Each scaly appendage on the vegetable, 

 throws off a branch which divides and sub-divides 

 into very numerous little branchlets, giving the plant 

 an exceedingly beautiful and decorative appearance. 

 The tiny yellow flowers appear in the axils of these 

 branchlets during June. Later, bright red berries 

 will be suspended on pedicels in place of the flow- 

 ers. Asparagus is a common escape from gardens 

 and may be met with anywhere. 



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