LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY FAMILY 125 
the petals are commonly white. This variation is 
a remarkable one; were it not for the gradations | 
to be found between the two colors the plants 
bearing each would be likely to be considered as 
a distinct species. 
The reddish color and peculiar disagreeable 
odor are believed to be for the purpose of attract- 
ing bluebottle flies and similar insects, which feed 
upon the dull yellow pollen. 
The Birthroot is a widely distributed species. 
In the north it is:found from Nova Scotia to 
Manitoba and in the south from North Carolina 
to Missouri. It is common throughout New 
England, occurring in damp, rich woods. 
The Sessile-flowered Trillium is one of the 
least attractive of the Wakerobins. As the name 
indicates, the flower has no stalk, springing 
directly from the bases of the leaves. The petals 
stand up nearly vertically and are of a purplish 
or greenish color. Notwithstanding its appear- 
ance the flower has a rather pleasant odor. In the 
east the species is not distributed very far north, 
being found from Pennsylvania to Florida and 
extending. west to Minnesota and Mississippi. 
The interesting Nodding Wakerobin is distrib- 
uted in woods from Nova Scotia to Minnesota 
and south to Missouri and Georgia. It bears a 
somewhat general resemblance to the Ill-scented 
Wakerobin, with which it is sometimes confused 
