STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 
juices that fill the tissues of the flower, and on the cellular 
tissue itself. Flowers deprived of light, we know, are 
pallid and often colorless, but how do we account for the 
deep crimson of the beetroot, the rose-red of the radish, 
the orange of the rhubarb and carrot, which roots, being 
buried in the earth, are not subject to the solar rays? The 
natural supposition would be that all roots hidden from 
the light would be white, but this is by no means the case. 
The question is one of much interest and deserves the 
attention of all naturalists, and especially of the botanical 
student. 
What shall we say to the rich color of the ruby, car- 
buncle, amethyst, topaz and emerald, taken from the 
darkness of the mine; can it be that all are really colorless 
till the light is admitted to them and the different condi- 
tions of the crystallized forms catch, imprison and forever 
hold fast the glorious rays of light? 
PAINTED TRILLIUM—Trillium erythrocarpum (Mx.). 
(PLATE IX.) 
This beautiful ornamental species is of rare occurrence in 
our woods. The flower is elegantly tinged with soft pink 
veinings on the white waved and pointed petals; the base 
of each is richly colored and shaded from deep red to pale 
rose, which color indeed is slightly diffused through the 
flower; leaves distinctly petioled, broad at the base, waved 
at the margins and sharply pointed; the whole plant from 
six to nine inches in height. The specimen from which the 
drawing is taken was found in May, near Ottawa, where 
it is not uncommon. The under-surface of the leaves is 
slightly tinged with purple. 
Though scarce in our western woods, Gray says the 
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