STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 
terminated by a drooping yellow bell. The unfolded bud 
is striped with lines of dark purple. A few hours of sun- 
shine and warm wind soon expand the perianth, composed 
of six colored recurved segments which form a lily-like 
turban-shaped flower; each segment is grooved, and spotted 
at, the base with oblong purplish-brown dots. The outer 
surfaces of three of the colored flower leaves are marked 
with dark lines. The stamens are six; anthers oblong; 
pollen of a brick-red, or dull orange color, varying to 
yellow. The style is club-shaped; stigmas three, united. 
This elegant Lily even when expanded bends downward 
as if to hide its glories from the full glare of the sun- 
light. The clouded leaves are of an oily smoothness, 
resisting the moisture of rain and dew. This is one of the 
most elegant of our native Lilies and is well worth cultiva- 
tion. It blossoms early in May or late in April, and we hail 
it with gladness when it brightens us with a graceful golden 
bell at the edge of the dark forest. 
The name Dog-tooth Violet seems very inappropriate. 
The pointed segments of the bell may have suggested the 
resemblance to the teeth of a dog; but it is difficult to 
trace any analogy between this flower and the Violet, no 
two plants presenting greater dissimilarity of form or 
habit than the Lily and the Violet, though often blended in 
the verse of the poet. The American name, Adder’s-tongue, 
is more significant.* This name must refer to the red 
pointed anthers rather than the foliage, as some have 
suggested. 
The White-flowered Adder’s-tongue, Erythronium albi- 
dum (Nutt.), grows in the more western portions of Canada, 
as on the shores of Lake Huron. 
*The name Dog-tooth refers to the shape of the small pointed white bulbs of the 
common European species, so well known in English gardens.—Prof. Lawson. 
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