WILD FLOWERS RED 
snuggled to the bosom of Mother Earth, obscurely 
sheltered by their own velvety-green leaves! The 
casual observer would never dream of their presence 
amid the cool, thrifty, green masses of their heart- 
shaped foliage that, ruglike, cover partially shaded 
nooks in rich, open woodland, along moist, stony slopes. 
The exceedingly odd flowers have a peculiar habit of 
growing partly buried, frequently face downward, in 
the accumulation of bleached and decaying litter about 
them. They are sombre-hued, and harmonize so 
cleverly with their musty surroundings as to appear 
tolerably inconspicuous. Even if we should crouch 
on our knees and -part the foliage, it would require a 
second sharp look to discover the solitary and some- 
what bell-shaped blossoms. All parts of the plant 
emit an aromatic fragrance when bruised, strongly 
suggesting that of ginger, from which it received its 
common name. The odour is at once pleasing and 
refreshing. The roots yield a volatile oil now extensively 
used in the manufacture of perfumery. The dried 
roots are sold at the druggists, as Canada Snakeroot, 
and country people make decoctions from them for 
relieving stomach ache. Usually, two long-stemmed, 
dark green leaves rise from a stout, fibrous, creeping: 
rootstock. They are thin-textured, blunt-pointed, and 
have two very large lobes at their base. They are 
broadly heart- or kidney-shaped, and their margins are 
toothless. Their surface is strongly creased with numer- 
ous ribs and veinings. The stumpy, short-stemmed 
flower has no petals, and springs from between the 
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