WILD FLOWERS WHITE AND GREENISH 
are everywhere conspicuous in thin, moist . woods, 
where they grow abundantly. They are found singly, 
and in thick clusters, but generally in colonies which 
are scattered over a considerable area, and slope after 
slope is often whitened with masses of their delicate 
blossoms. The single, slender, and juicy stalk springs 
from a small, deeply seated, tuberous root. It grows 
from six to twelve inches high, and is occasionally 
branched. It is light green in colour, and is stained 
with red. About midway from the ground, it bears 
two long, narrow, dark green, grass-like leaves which 
taper into short stems and unite oppositely with the 
stalk. They have a distinct midrib, a smooth edge, 
and are narrowed to a point. The stem and leaves 
are thick and rubbery in texture, and the entire plant 
becomes limp and forlorn almost as soon as it is picked. 
The weak stalk usually assumes a crooked or ser- 
pentine growth, and is frequently sprawled along the 
ground. It is rather tough, and is more apt to break 
at the root than above the ground when pulled. The 
newly exposed part when pulled up is quite white, and 
tapers toward the root. The nodding buds, which are 
enclosed in a two-parted calyx, are borne on short, 
slender stems in a loose terminal cluster, and open a 
few at atime. The flowers are less than an inch broad 
when fully expanded, and are known, botanically, as 
secund flowers — that is, they are all borne on one 
side of the stem. The five oval, fine-textured petals 
are notched at the apex. They are white with fine 
veinings of pink, or often a beautiful pink with darker 
223 
