Xil^ 3famil^. 



Bellwort. Uvularia perfoliata. 



Wild Oat. 

 Straw Bell. 



Found in damp woods, during May. 



The slender stalk forks at the top into 2 (or sometimes more) 

 branches; it reaches the height of 10 or 15 inches, is hard and round, 

 grooved a little, and shining. The color is a cool light green, tinted 

 with purple-brown at the foot. Two or three sheath-like leaves enfold 

 it near the foot. 



The oblong leaf grows together about the stalk, with an appear- 

 ance of being strung upon it ; it is deeply creased upon the midrib, the 

 margin is entire, and its texture is firm and thin, most pleasant to the 

 touch. The color is a cool fine green, underneath pale with bloom. 

 The leaves are alternate, and occur only upon the branches. 



The flower is shaped like a slender deep bell, whose pointed tips 

 slightly curve outwards but never spread wide apart ; its 6 calyx-parts 

 are petal-like, long and narrow, each grooved down the middle ; the 

 texture is thin and fine, and smooth on the outside, while the inner 

 surface is rough as though spread with fine meal of a slightly richer 

 hue than the pale straw-yellow bell with its faint tinge of green. The 

 flower hangs singly on a short, slender, terminal green stem. 



After the fall of the flower the stems prolong themselves with a 

 further succession of leaves; thus the rather conspicuous seed -pod is left 

 hanging near the middle of the branch. 



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