12 



YELLOW STAR GRASS. 



From the latter part of April, 

 throughout the summer, the handsome 

 golden stars of this common plant 

 gleam at us from the grass carpeted 

 ground of pasture or first growth 

 woods. It belongs to the Amaryllis 

 Family, a small family closely relat- 

 ed to the Lilies, having flat grass- 

 like leaves and long slender stems 

 bearing six-parted flowers. The leaves 

 of the present species so closely re- 

 semble grass that the plants would 

 not be noticed were it not for the 

 blossoms. The flower is wide spread 

 and of six equal divisions. Although 

 half a dozen or more buds are in a 

 loose umbel at the top of each stem, the flowers open but one 

 or two at a time, so that the period of bloom for each plant 

 may extend over a period of many days. The blossoms yield 

 little or no nectar but are visited by many smaller bees for 

 pollen, some of which is unavoidably carried on their bodies 

 and deposited on the sticky stigmas of blossoms visited later, 

 thus effecting cross-fertilization that is so vital to the con- 

 tinued healthy existence of many plants. 



In moist fields and meadows another flowering grass-like 

 plant is commonly found, namely Blue-eyed Grass which 

 belongs to the Iris Family. The leaves are very narrow 

 and the stem long, slender, angular and sometimes pros- 

 trate — quite uninteresting were it not for the beautiful six- 

 parted flowers with their bright golden centers and violet 

 petals, very appropriately termed blue-eyed. 



The blossoms are very sensitive and remain open for but 

 a single day and only on bright days at that. While the 

 sun shines the pretty blue eyes will twinkle at you but to- 

 wards the close of day. they close in sleep never to open 

 again, but their places on the morrow will be taken by new 

 faces. 



