STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 
STRAWBERRY BLITE—INDIAN STRAWBERRY—Blitum 
capitatum (L.). 
(PLATE. XIX.) 
The Strawberry Blite—or, as it is often called, Indian 
Strawberry—is widely spread over the Northern States and 
Canada. Wherever the forest has been cleared it is sure to 
appear, as it seems to affect the rich black leaf-mould of 
the newly-cleared forest. 
It is not indeed found within the close thick forest, but 
appears wherever a partial clearing has been made. It may 
be seen close to the rough log walls of the Jumberer’s or 
chopper’s shanty, flourishing in great luxuriance under this 
half culture. On forest land that has been burnt over and 
left uncropped it may be seen in perfection, and within 
the garden enclosure, where it becomes a common weed, 
though truly more ornamental than many a flower that the 
gardener cultivates with care and trouble. 
When fully ripe the long spikes of crimson fruit and the 
foliage, of a bright green color, have a beautiful appearance, 
tempting the hand to pluck the richly-colored seed clusters; 
but beauty is not always to be trusted, and in this case the 
eye is deceived and the taste disappointed. The fruit is 
insipid and flavorless, though not unwholesome. 
The red juice is used by the Indian women in dyeing, and 
in old times the backwoods settlers made it a substitute for 
ink, but unless the color be fixed by alum it fades and dis- 
appears from the paper. 
The Indian Strawberry, or Blite, belongs to the Spinach 
family, and may be used with safety as a substitute for the 
garden vegetable, being perfectly harmless. 
I well remember, many years ago, greatly alarming some 
of my neighbors in the backwoods by gathering the tender 
leaves and shoots of these plants and preparing them for the 
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