' White and Greenish 



likeness to the wonderful star in the East which guided the Wise 

 Men to the manger where Jesus lay. 



Star-grass ; Colic-root 



{Aletris farinosa) Lily family 



Flowers — Small, oblong-tubular, pure white or yellowish, about 

 % in. long, set obliquely in a long, wand-like, spiked raceme, 

 at the end of a slender scape 2 to 3 ft. tall. Perianth some- 

 what bell-shaped, 6-pointed, rough or mealy outside ; 6 sta- 

 mens, I inserted below each point ; style 3-cleft at tip. (A 

 Southern form or distinct species (?) has yellower, fragrant 

 flowers.) Leaves: From the base, lance-shaped, 2 to 6 in. 

 long, thin, pale yellowish green, in a spreading cluster. 



Preferred Habitat — Dry soil ; roadsides ; open, grassy, sandy woods. 



FloweHng Season — May — July. 



Distribution — From Ontario and the Mississippi eastward to the 

 Atlantic. 



Herb gatherers have searched far and wide for this plant's 

 bitter, fibrous root, because of its supposed medicinal virtues. 

 What decoctions have not men swallowed from babyhood to old 

 age to get relief from griping colic ! In partial shade, colonies of 

 the tufted yellow-green leaves send up from the centre gradually 

 lengthening spikes of bloom that may finally attain over a foot in 

 length. The plant is not unknown m borders of men's gardens. 

 The Greek word {aletron — meal) from which its generic title is 

 derived, refers to the rough, granular surface of the little oblong 

 white flower. 



Wild Spikenard; False Solomon's Seal; Solo- 

 mon's Zig-zag 



{Vagnera racemosa) Lily-of-the- Valley family 



{Smilacina racemosa of Gray) 



Flowers — White or greenish, small, slightly fragrant, in a densely 

 flowered terminal raceme. Perianth of 6 separate, spreading 

 segments ; 6 stamens; i pistil. Stem: Simple, somewhat 

 angled, i to 3 ft. high, scaly below, leafy, and sometimes 

 finely hairy above. Leaves : Alternate and seated along stem, 

 oblong, lance-shaped, 3 to 6 in. long, finely hairy beneath. 

 Rootstoch : Thick, fleshy. Fruit : A cluster of aromatic, 

 round, pale red speckled berries. 



Preferred Habitat— \Aa\%\ woods, thickets, hillsides. 



Flowering Season — May — July. 



IS9 



