BLUE AND PURPLE WILD FLOWERS 
shaped petals are a little longer than the sepals, and 
spread open nearly flat. The stamens have very con- 
spicuous whitish anthers, and a prominent, purplish 
pistil. Singularly enough, the rank odour emitted by 
the flowers attracts the green fly, so commonly found 
wherever tainted or putrid meat and fish are exposed. 
The purplish oval fruit is often one inch long. The 
flowers vary, and are frequently pinkish, greenish or 
even white. Strange, too, that the dainty, chaste, and 
fragrant Lily of the Valley and this coarse-scented plant 
should belong to the same family. The astringent root 
of this species was highly regarded as a medicine by 
the Indians and the early settlers. It is still known as 
Bethwort, and is used as a tonic, and as a remedy for 
coughs and other throat afflictions. The plant blos- 
soms from April to June in damp, rich, shady woods 
from North Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri, north- 
ward into Canada. Also in Japan. 
LARGER BLUE FLAG. BLUE IRIS. FLEUR-DE-LIS 
Tris versicolor. Iris Family. 
The Iris, famous in the history of France, is named 
after the Greek god of the rainbow, which its various 
colours aptly suggest. It was considered peculiarly 
sacred in olden days, and seems to enjoy a somewhat 
classical dignity even to-day. Ruskin says that it is 
“the flower of chivalry” and has a “‘sword for its leaf, 
and a lily for its heart,” but Thoreau, with less gracious- 
ness considered it “too showy and gaudy, like some 
women’s bonnets!” The Indians, however, viewed it 
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