WILD FLOWERS white and greenish 



with their edges slightly toothed. The smooth, rich 

 green upper surface is strongly veined, and the under 

 side is silvery white and coarsely veined. The thick, 

 fleshy, blunt-ended, perennial root contains a copious 

 deep orange-red sap which is both acid and astringent. 

 This sap is also present in the stems and leaves and 

 they "bleed" instantly when broken. The Indians 

 made ample use of the Bloodroot. The brilliantly 

 coloured juice was used for staining their faces and 

 arms when preparing themselves for their peace or 

 war dances. The squaws utilized it also for decorat- 

 ing skins and baskets. It served their medicine men 

 when catering to their bodily ailments. At the present 

 time Bloodroot is employed as a remedy in bron- 

 chial troubles. Many grandmothers can tell how they 

 used to dole out drops of its bitterish blood on a spoon- 

 ful of soft sugar to those of the family circle who 

 became afflicted with a cough or a cold. Sangui- 

 naria vinegar, made from the rootstock, has a domes- 

 tic ring, and is used locally for ringworm and also 

 as a gargle for sore throat. Bloodroot is found from 

 Nova Scotia to Ontario and Nebraska, southward to 

 Florida and Arkansas, during April and May. It 

 prefers rich, open woodlands, and especially rocky 

 slopes where the soil is loose and well drained. 



DUTCHMAN'S BREECHES. SOLDIERS' CAPS 



Dicentra Cucullaria. Fumitory Family. 



Perhaps, in the olden days when the elfs made 

 merry in the woodland dells, they were dressed in tiny, 



247 



