STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 



juices that fill the tissues of the flower, and on the cellular 

 tissue itself. Flowers deprived of light, we know, are 

 pallid and often colorless, but how do we account for the 

 deep crimson of the beetroot, the rose-red of the radish, 

 the orange of the rhubarb and carrot, which roots, being 

 buried in the earth, are not subject to the solar rays? The 

 natural supposition would be that all roots hidden from 

 the light would be white, but this is by no means the case. 

 The question is one of much interest and deserves the 

 attention of all naturalists, and especially of the botanical 

 student. 



What shall we say to the rich color of the ruby, car- 

 buncle, amethyst, topaz and emerald, taken from the 

 darkness of the mine; can it be that all are really colorless 

 till the light is admitted to them and the different condi- 

 tions of the crystallized forms catch, imprison and forever 

 hold fast the glorious rays of light? 



PAINTED TRILLIUM Trillium erythrocarpum (Mx.). 



(PLATE IX.) 



This beautiful ornamental species is of rare occurrence in 

 our woods. The flower is elegantly tinged with soft pink 

 veinings on the white waved and pointed petals; the base 

 of each is richly colored and shaded from deep red to pale 

 rose, which color indeed is slightly diffused through the 

 flower; leaves distinctly petioled, broad at the base, waved 

 at the margins and sharply pointed; the whole plant from 

 six to nine inches in height. The specimen from which the 

 drawing is taken was found in May, near Ottawa, where 

 it is not uncommon. The under-surface of the leaves is 

 slightly tinged with purple. 



Though scarce in our western woods, Gray says the 



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