10 



CANADA MAYFLOWER. 



Whole woods, particularly conifer- 

 ous ones, are often carpeted with the 

 low growing green leaves of this 

 plant which is shown on the left in 

 the picture. The flower on the right 

 is the Three-leaved False Solomon's 

 Seal; the two species are often con- 

 fused with one another but a close 

 examination will show that the flow- 

 ers of the foi'mer have a four-parted 

 perianth while those of the latter are 

 divided into six points besides being 

 fewer in number. Either species may 

 have two or three leaves, so the num- 

 ber cannot be used as a guide to their 

 identity. 



They bloom most profusely about Memorial Day and as 

 the leaves are so clean and bright and the flowers so beauti- 

 ful and dainty, they are used quite extensively for decorat- 

 ing. During fall the place of each pistillate flower is oc- 

 cupied by a small purple berry, standing erect and await- 

 ing the appearance of the bird which is destined to carry its 

 precious seed-contents to other localities. Thus birds not 

 only play a very important part in the economy of nature 

 by destroying injurious insects, but also assist in the distri- 

 bution of our plant life to a very considerable extent. 



The true Lily of the Valley, while very familiar as a cul- 

 tivated species is wild only in the mountains of our southern 

 states. It is, however, often found in New York and New 

 England as an escape from gardens. The delicate little, 

 nodding, white bell-shaped flowers grow along the upper 

 part of a slender stem, rising from the bases of two large, 

 oval pointed leaves. The leaf veins, like those of nearly all 

 species belonging to this family, run lengthwise of the leaf. 



