LILIACEAE 



LILY FAMILY 



YELLOW ADDER'S TONGUE 



Erytlirnniinn americannm Ker 



Not many of our early spring flowers are yellow, and of those 

 that are, one, the Yellow Adder's Tongue, is very rare in Illi- 

 nois. It grows in rich forest soil, particularly along the banks of 

 streams, from New Brunswick to Ontario, 

 south to Florida and Arkansas. 



The seeds germinate just below the 

 surface of the soil and produce a very 

 small bulb bearing i leaf the first year. 

 The next year a stem grows downward 

 from this bulb and forms another bulb a 

 few inches deeper. This process is repeated 

 four or five years, the old 

 bulb withering each time. 

 When a bulb has been pro- 

 duced at a depth of 3-15 

 inches, depending on the 

 character of the soil, it 

 sends up a stem 5-10 inches 

 high, bearing 2 pale green 

 leaves mottled with purple, 

 and I flower that blooms in 

 April and May. 



The 3 sepals are green 

 and purple on the outside, 

 and pale yellow inside, 



whereas the 3 petals are pale yellow on both sides. Both sepals 

 and petals are dotted with reddish brown spots at the base. 

 There are 6 stammens which have long brown anthers that open 

 lengthwise. The pistil consists of a 3-celled ovary and a single 

 style and stigma. The fruit is a capsule containing many seeds 

 which are brown and curved when mature. Soon after the 

 blooming season the leaves die and the capsule lies on the 

 ground until ripe. 



The White Dogtooth Violet, Erythronium albidum Nutt., is 

 similar to the Yellow Adder's Tongue but has white flowers, and the 

 style, which is more slender, bears 3 stigmas. In many places it is 

 also more common. 



55 



