A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 13 



Flowers with a leaf -like spathe below them (see Figs. 



47-55) no. 45 



Flowers not so 



Petals distinct, or nearly so no. 36 



Petals united to form a tube 

 Flowers small, in spike-like clus- 

 ters Grape Hyacinth no. 34 



Flowers at least Vz in. long, in 

 loose clusters Plaintain Lily no. 35 



34. GRAPE HYACINTH. MUSCARL 



Low bulbous herb with fleshy leaves with parallel margins. 

 Flowers small, in spike-like clusters, followed by a dry pod. 

 {Liliaccae.) 



Grape Hyacinth. Muscari botryoides. From 4 to 10 in. 

 high. Leaves erect, not more than ^4 ^^- wide, grooved. 

 Flower cluster about i^ in. long, the flowers nearly round 

 or urn-shaped, tubular, and with 6 tiny teeth, scarcely }^ in. 

 long, blue. May. New Hampshire to Ohio and Virginia. 

 Native of Europe. Fig. 34. Related to it is Muscari race- 

 mosum, with recurved leaves, and longer, oblong flowers, 

 which is found from Conn, to Virginia, and is also a native 

 of Europe. 



35. PLANTAIN LILY. NIOBE. 



Herbs, forming large masses. Leaves all basal, stalked. 

 Flowers in stalked clusters, tubular or funnel-shaped, the 

 segments longer or shorter than the tube. Fruit a pod. (Lilia- 

 ceac.) Several species are known. 



Blue Plantain or Day Lily. Niobe cocridca. Leaves 

 long stalked, the blades 4-8 in, long, oval, heart-shaped at 

 base. Flowers pale blue, about ^ in. long, in a loose raceme. 

 Fruit drooping, about >^ in. long. Spring. Much cultivated 

 and sometimes escaping. Native of Eastern Asia. 



