226 



Minnesota Plant Life. 



depths of the forest. One interesting form, known as alkali- 

 grass, grows on the high prairies in the western part of the state. 

 The onions are found in six different varieties and are best de- 

 veloped in the prairie region of Minnesota, but they occur also 

 in the forests. 



The hellebore is notable as the source of the alkaloid ver ci- 

 trine, a valuable medicinal compound. The bellworts, of which 

 there are three varieties, are common and attractive flowers 

 of the middle spring. The onions, with their characteristic 

 bulbs, smooth in some species, in others fibrous or reticulated; 

 the tiger lilies of three sorts with their showy flowers, the dog's- 

 tooth violets of three varieties with 

 their peculiarly spotted leaves and 

 white or yellow flowers are all familiar 

 and common forms. The peculiar 

 habit of the Solomon's seals which 

 separate the erect stems of the year 

 from the strong perennial subterra- 

 nean rootstocks in such manner as to 

 give rise to circular scars, has occa- 

 sioned the common name. Asparagus 

 which grows wild in Minnesota differs 

 from the rest of the family in being 

 largely devoid of leaves, the fine green 

 foliage consisting of small starch-mak- 

 ing branches rather than true leaves. 

 Smilax. Among the lilies may be 

 included also the green briars or 

 smilaxes, noticeable for their netted 



leaves and, in most varieties, tendril-bearing stems. Five spe- 

 cies of smilax are known to occur in Minnesota. The flowers 

 in these plants stand in umbels and the fruits mature as berries 

 of a red or blue color, shading towards purple or black. The 

 stems, which twine or climb upon the vegetation near them,, 

 arise from large swollen underground rootstocks. One variety 

 of smilax common in Minnesota is quite destitute of tendrils 

 and exists as an erect herb a foot or so in height. Some of the 

 smilaxes are very bristly with prickles upon the stems or edges 

 of the leaves, whik others are smooth. 



FIG. 101. Blue flags. After pho- 

 tograph by Williams. 



