Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 51 



THREE-LEAVED .FALSE SOLOMON'S .SEAL 



(Smilacina trifolia) is the smallest member of the 

 genus Smilacina. It is found rather commonly in 

 bogs and wet woods. It is, however, not nearly as 

 abundant as the next very similar species. The stem 

 is straight and slender, from 2 to 6 in. high. It us- 

 ually has three leaves, but sometimes two or even 

 four; they are shining green, oblong-pointed and 

 sheathing at the base, arranged at regular intervals 

 along the stem. The flowers are white, few in num- 

 ber, on short peduncles in an open raceme at the sum- 

 mit of the stem. It is found from Labrador to Mani- 

 toba and southwards to N. J. and Mo., flowering dur- 

 ing May and June. 



CANADA MAYFLOWER; FALSE LILY-OF-THE- 

 VALLEY (Maianthemum canadense) is a very abund- 

 ant woodland plant. It usually grows in colonies, thous- 

 ands of them sometimes carpeting pine woods with 

 their dark green glossy leaves. At a casual glance 

 this species very closely resembles the last, but the 

 distinction is very marked and as follows: The two, 

 or three, broad, ovate-lanceolate, shiny green leaves 

 are rather heart-shaped at the base, seated on the 

 stem or very nearly so. The flower perianth has on- 

 ly four divisions whereas that of the last species has 

 six. After the flowering season both of these plants 

 have berries; at first a creamy white, spotted with 

 brown, and later turning to a dull ruby-red. 



It is unfortunate, and often confusing, that flowers 

 should receive the common names that they do. 

 Neither of these species in the least resembles the 

 true Solomon's Seal and the only respect in which 

 the False Lily-of-the-Valley resembles the real is that 

 it usually has two leaves. This last species has the 

 same range as the preceding. 



