8 



TURK'S-CAP LILY; TIGER 

 LILY. 



None of our several species of 

 lilies are more beautiful, more grace- 

 ful or decorative than the Turk's-cap. 

 With ' stately grandeur some of the 

 stalks rise to heights of six or seven 

 feet and terminate in the most bril- 

 liant array of pendent blossoms vary- 

 ing in number from two or three up 

 to forty. They usually grow closely 

 together in colonies, forming masses 

 of brilliant color that can be seen to 

 best advantage in low meadows along 

 railroad lines during July and August. 

 In full bloom, the six points of the 

 perianth of this species are curved 

 far back, while those of the Canada or Wild Yellow Lily 

 are always spreading or bell-shaped. Another beautiful 

 species known as the Red Wood Lily, but which grows most 

 commonly in moist sandy ground, has the deep red bell- 

 shaped perianth turned upward instead of being in a pendu- 

 lous position. 



The brightly colored lilies are fertilized by bees or but- 

 terflies which are attracted by brilliant colors while the 

 white ones cater to the long-tongued night moths or sphin- 

 ges. Anyone who has ever handled these lilies knows how 

 easily the pollen is rubbed from the large anthers and can 

 readily see that a visiting bee, searching for the nectar 

 that is contained in grooves at the base of the flower, can 

 scarcely avoid becoming powdered with it. As he visits 

 the next bloom, even while getting a fresh dose of pollen 

 on his under parts, he is leaving some of that from the pre- 

 vious one on the sticky, projecting stigma. The long stems, 

 thickly studded with leaves make upward progress very 

 arduous for crawling insects and the deep recesses within 

 which the nectar is contained prevent short-tongued ones 

 from reaching the sweets. 



