WILD FLOWERS red 



Ice, in wet swampy places very early in the spring, are 

 really floral huts, and that if one slips his finger in the 

 side opening he is very likely to find out that 

 important .business is being transacted therein. If 

 golden grains of pollen adhere to the finger when 

 withdrawn, it is positive proof of the flower's maturity. 

 True enough, they are unattractive and unpleasantly 

 scented; nevertheless, it cannot be denied that they 

 are very interesting and figure prominently in the 

 earliest rambles of the year. It is also interesting to 

 know that its stout, mottled, horn-like hood is identical 

 in capacity with the white cup of the Calla Lily, to 

 which it is related. The acrid root of the Skunk 

 Cabbage has been used as a remedy for asthma, catarrh, 

 rheumatism, nervousness and hysteria. This plant 

 grows with a rank, tropical vigour, and its profuse, 

 bright green foliage becomes a highly decorative 

 feature in our Eastern lowlands during the summer. 

 The strongly ribbed, rather thin and smooth, firm- 

 textured leaves grow in large, cabbage-like crowns, 

 and vary in length from one to three feet. They have 

 an entire margin, and are broadly egg- or heart-shaped, 

 with a blunt tip. They do not unfold until after the 

 flowering period, and are set on short, deeply grooved 

 stems. Numerous tiny, four-parted, greenish-yellow 

 to purplish-brown florets are densely gathered on a 

 short, thick, rounded and fleshy club or spadix, which 

 is hidden within the large, thick, purple lined, shell- 

 like hood. The spadix finally enlarges and becomes 

 somewhat spongy, and encloses numerous bulb-like 



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