Yellow to Orange Flowers 307 



The Mountain Lily is one of the handsomest of the al- 

 pine flowers, and early in July its red-tinted tawny bells 

 render the woods attractively gay. As if conscious of their 

 glory, the large bright blossoms grow erect on tall stems, 

 round which circling clusters of dark green narrow-pointed 

 leaves are set at intervals; the outer surface of the segments 

 is pale orange, while the open bells are of a vivid reddish 

 hue within, and spotted with purplish-brown. Large an- 

 thers crown the six long stamens, and the stigma is three- 

 lobed. 



This Lily does not fear the drought of long summer days, 

 but grows in stately splendour in the driest thickets. It has 

 assumed a gorgeous garb of flaming orange in order to at- 

 tract those insects that pollenize its flowers ; for while the 

 brilliant colour quickly attracts the bees, the purplish spots 

 and lines unerringly point out to them the most direct route 

 to their desired goal, namely, those nectar grooves which lie 

 at the base of each segment. 



Truly was it said that " even Solomon in all his glory was 

 not arrayed like one of these " ; for the wild orange-red 

 Mountain Lilies shine with a beauty unequalled in the alpine 

 forests. 



WESTERN LILY 

 Lilium columbianum. Lily Family 



Bulb, with lanceolate, acute, closely appressed scales. Stems: slender. 

 Leaves: in whorls, scattered above and below, narrowly lanceolate, 

 sharply acuminate, thin, glabrous. Flowers: racemose, or in whorls on 

 stout pedicels, six segments of the perianth revolute. 



This \vestern Lily somewhat resembles the Turk's-cap 

 Lily, for its head is drooped and its floral leaves are revo- 

 lute, or rolled backwards, being bright orange in colour and 

 thickly spotted with purple on ie inside. It has six very 



