Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 101 



VIRGINIA SNAKEROOT (Aristolichia serpentaria) 



is a low herbaceous vine with a woolystem from 8 to 

 20 in. long, with several pointed-oblong leaves with 

 heart-shaped bases alternating along it. The dull 

 greenish-yellow flowers are on short peduncles from 

 the root; the calyx tube is bent in the form of a let- 

 ter S, with three obtuse, spreading lobes. It flowers 

 in June and July in rich woods from Conn, and Mich, 

 to the Gulf of Mexico. 



PIPE VINE; DUTCHMAN'S PIPE (A. macrophyl- 

 la), The Dutchman's Pipe is chiefly a southern plant 

 or vine, being found from Pa. and Minn, southwards. 

 It has a woody, climbing stem that may attain lengths 

 of from 10 to 40 feet. It is often used to decorate 

 porches and trellises. The very large, deep green, 

 veiny leaves that alternate along the stem are very 

 beautiful. In the dull, greenish-yellow flowers, how- 

 ever, lies the chief interest of the botanist. Its stig- 

 ma matures and withers away before the ripening of 

 the pollen, thus making the plant dependent upon in- 

 sects for its perpetuation. 



Besides furnishing a hiding place in its tube, H 

 secretes at the bottom a few drops of nectar as an 

 added attraction for its winged visitors. The throat 

 is filled with tiny hairs, all pointing inwards, so in- 

 gress is easy but egress impossible. Entering insects 

 are held prisoners, living upon the nectar, until the 

 stigma withers and pollen ripens; after this the hairs 

 in the throat lose their rigidity and the pollen-dusted 

 and well fed prisoners are allowed to escape. Their 

 memories are poor or the pollen feast is well worth 

 the imprisonment for they usually immediately hie 

 to another blossom and force their way in, of course 

 pollenizing the flower in so doing. 



It almost seems as though some of these highly 

 specialized plants were human and had reasoning 

 power. 



