THE BLOOD-ROOT. 
WILLIAM KERR HIGLEY, 
Secretary of the Chicago Academy of Sciences. 
Thou first-born of the year’s delight, 
Pride of the dewy glade, 
In vernal green and virgin white, 
Thy vestal robes arrayed.— Keble. 
HE true lover of flowers, though 
| he may be enraptured by those 
under cultivation, finds a greater 
satisfaction in the study and 
observation of those that are developed 
only under the influence of Nature’s 
laws. In the field, the forest, and even 
in the sea there are plants not only 
pleasing to the eye, but that are doubly 
interesting because of the wonderful 
provision made for them to assure their 
survival. Plants, like animals, have 
their enemies, and sometimes it seems 
that, with thoughtful care for its own 
protection, a species will gradually 
change its habits, thus conveying a 
sense of danger to its descendants. 
Many of the peculiarities of plants, 
that fit them for existence, may be 
readily studied by the novice in botany 
as he tramps the fields in search of 
recreation. There is nothing more de- 
lightful and charming to the botanist 
than to seek the reasons for the beau- 
ties in Nature and to find why plants 
live and exist as they do. 
Many delicate plants seek the shelter 
and protection of the borders of the 
forest. They do not penetrate far 
within, but remain near the open, 
where the sunlight can reach them. 
~ The blood-root (Sanguinaria Canaden- 
sis) is of this character. Beautiful and 
delicate, it seems to shun the storm 
and wind and to retire from the gaze 
of man. 
The blood-root belongs to the poppy 
family (Papaveracee), which includes 
about twenty-five genera and over two 
hundred species. These, though widely 
distributed, are chiefly found in the 
temperate regions of the North. To 
this family also belong the valuable 
opium-producing plant ( Papaver somnt- 
ferum), the Mexican or prickly poppy 
(Argemone Mexicana), the Dutchman’s 
breeches (Bicuculla Cucullaria), the 
bleeding-heart (Azcuculla eximia) and 
the beautiful mountain fringe (Adlumia 
fungosa). A large number of the 
species are cultivated for ornamental 
purposes. The poppy is also culti- 
vated for the commercial value of the 
opium it produces. All the species 
producea milky or colored juice. Here, 
indeed, we may say that behind beauty 
there lurks a deadly foe, for the juice 
of nearly all the species has active nar- 
cotic properties. This property is a 
means of protection to the plant under 
consideration, for its acrid taste is dis- 
tasteful to animals. 
The red juice that exudes from all 
parts of the plant of the blood-root 
gives it both its common and its generic 
names, the latter, Sangwinaria, is de- 
rived from the Latin word sanguts, or 
blood. 
This interesting plant is a native of 
Eastern North America, deriving its 
specific name from the fact that it is 
found inCanada. It blossoms in April 
or May. Usually but a single flower is 
borne by the naked stalk that rises 
from the underground stem to the 
height of about eight inches. The 
flowers are white, very rarely pinkish, 
about one and one-half of an inch in 
diameter. The number of petals varies 
from eight to twelve, and they fall very 
soon after expansion. The sepals dis- 
appear before the bud opens. 
A single leaf is produced from each 
bud of the underground stem. It is 
wrapped around the flower-bud as the 
latter rises from the soil and does not 
develop to full size tillafter the period 
of blossoming is over. The necessary 
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