EARLY WILD FLOWERS, CATKINS. 



11 



above which measure four or five inches across ; these 

 are broad, lieart-shaped, and more or less pointed. 

 The Canada wild ginger is quite : 



common northward ; its aromc-.t- 

 ic, stinging root- 

 stock has 

 the flavor 



of ginger. 



While 

 we are yet 

 passing through the 

 woodland we will 

 likely find another early 

 flower, the mandrake or 

 May apple {Podophylhim 

 peltaturri) ; this blooms in 

 May. The drooping white 

 flower with half a dozen or 

 more petals is borne between 

 two large leaves which have, from five to nine lobes ; 

 the plant has also flowerless stems which bear only 

 larger leaves supported in the middle like an um- 

 brella. The fruit, which ripens in July and appears 

 like a tiny lemon an inch and a half long, is edible ; 

 but both leaves and roots are drastic and poisonous — 

 so says Dr. Gray. As for the fruit, I prefer to let it 

 alone ; it is simply rank ! 



