180 Lily ( Liliacece). [No. 25 



or even to fiddle-shape {i. e., with the middle very 

 deeply hollowed); often minutely bristle-toothed along 

 the edge and on the mid-vein ; often mottled. Leaf- 

 stem, one quarter to one half inch long. 



Fruit, round, black, usually one-seeded. 



Found, from New Jersey to Florida and Texas. 



A woody vine, eight to twenty feet in length, with the 

 stem usually cylindrical and the branchlets angled ; armed 

 with short stout prickles. Stems and branches green. 



Dr. Burrows states that the Indians make the tuberous 

 roots into meal, which they use for bread or soup, under 

 the name of coomte. 



The name Stretch-Berry is due to the rubber-like elas- 

 ticity of the pulp of the ripe berry. 



Resembling Fig. 84. — Rough Smilax. £. hispida, Muhl. 



Flowers, rather larger than in the common Cat-Briar (No. 

 83). Cluster-stem, flattened, three quarters to two 

 inches in length, about twice as long as the leaf-stem, 

 or more. June. 



Leaves, usually three to five inches in length, egg-shape, 

 never contracted at the middle, the larger ones more 

 rounded, five-veined, rather thin, green on both sides. 

 Apex, pointed. Base, rounded, unless in the larger 

 ones, sometimes slightly heart-shaped. Edge, some- 

 times slightly roughened. Leaf-stem, one third to 

 three quarters inch in length. Prickles, very weak, 

 needle-like. 



