WILD FLOWERS white and greenish 



July. It also resembles a small yellow, egg-shaped 

 tomato, such as are used for preserving. In some 

 localities in the South, where the hogs are allowed to 

 roam at will, they feed upon this fleshy seed case, and 

 consequently the plant is known by the inappropriate 

 name of Hog Apple. The fruit is sweetish, slightly 

 acid to the taste, has a sickish flavour, and is the only 

 part of the plant that can be eaten with impunity. This 

 plant is not a true Mandrake, although this name is 

 commonly applied to it. The leaves, stalk, and stems 

 of the May Apple are poisonous if taken internally, 

 and these parts should not be placed in the mouth. 

 The root contains powerful medicinal properties that 

 are likely to cause serious effects unless administered by 

 a physician in small quantities. The Latin name 

 is derived from pous } fodcs, a foot, and phyllon, a leaf, 

 alluding to a fancied resemblance of the leaf to the 

 webbed foot of a duck. The fruit of this species 

 should not be confused with the May Apple of New 

 England which is altogether different. The latter 

 is a curious, pulpy growth occurring upon the Azalea 

 or Swamp Honeysuckle. The Mandrake is more or 

 less common in low, rich woods where the ground is 

 shaded and moist. It ranges from Quebec and 

 Ontario to Minnesota, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. 



BLOODROOT. INDIAN PAINT. RED PUCCOON 



Sanguinaria canadensis. Poppy Family. 



The Bloodroot is one of the very earliest spring 

 flowers. Long before the trees and shrubs take on 



245 



