SMILACEiE. 213 



6-cleft, greenish, large and pendent towards the top of the finely 

 arched stem ; hedges and banks of streams ; June. Berries dark- 

 blue. The name Solomon's Seal is taken from a cross section 

 of the knotted part of the roots, which has been imagined to re- 

 semble the seal of that king. 



C. pubescens. W. Much resembles the last, but smaller, with 

 clasping ovate leaves, pubescent beneath ; flowers axillary, foot- 

 stalks about 2-flowered ; May. 



C. canaliculata. W. Distinguished from the last by its chan- 

 nelled and angular stem. 



C. umbellulata. Mx. Lily of the Valley. A beautiful plant, 

 with its long and wide, deep-green leaves, ciliate or hairy on the 

 edge and keel, supporting a short scape of yellowish flowers, 

 often abundant on the sides of hills, and in open woods ; June. 

 C. borealis, and Dracaena borealis, Willd., seem to be only va- 

 rieties of this species. At least, on the hills of Berkshire County 

 we find the plants answering to both descriptions, and yet scarcely 

 differing from each other. The C. majalis of Pursh, is probably 

 only a variety of the same C. umbellulata, Mx. Let no one sup- 

 pose that the Lily of the Valley, mentioned by Solomon, wholly 

 unknown, can be this plant, which does not grow in the East. 



Trillium. L. 6. 3. 



From the Latin for a tissue of three threads of different colors, 

 as the stem has 3 leaves, the calyx 3 sepals, the corolla 3 petals, 

 the stamens are twice 3, and there are 3 styles. A North Amer- 

 ican genus of about a dozen species, of fine appearance, but 

 rather offensive odor. 



Calyx spreading, with 3 sepals ; berry 3-celled. Four species 

 are credited to this State ; grow in woods, but capable of cultiva- 

 tion, though not very easily propagated. They are a great addi- 

 tion to the beauty of open woods in the season of their flowering. 

 Roots highly emetic. 



T. erectum. L. Wake Robin. Very common in the 



