48 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



haps not unlike that of the nitrogen-producing tubercles to 

 many leguminous plants. 



Saprophytes, as Mouofropa^ ApliyUon, Coralorhiza, and 

 EpipJicgus are white or pale in color. The peculiarity is thus 

 seen not to be a matter of family — in the above examples three 

 orders are represented : broom-rapes, heaths and orchids — but 

 of circumstance. Similar environment and conditions may 

 bring about like development. 



Everyone familiar with the woods knows the indian pipe 

 ( Mouotropa uniflora). It is less commonly called the corpse 

 plant. The application of the first name is obvious. The re- 

 semblance to a beautifully fashioned pipe is complete and won- 

 derfu'. The blackening as it dries is seen more or less in most 

 parasites, and indeed, is part of their diagnosis to the old col- 

 lector. Few of our native plants are of more poetic suggestion 

 than the indian pipe. Everyone will recall AMiittier's allusion 

 to it in his "Jack-in-the-Pulpit." The least imaginative ob- 

 server feels a subtile inexplicable thrill as he finds the indian 

 pipe in deep, dark, cool woods, haunt of the etherial thrush. 

 There is an elusive sentiment that one seeks in vain to catch 

 and hold. How Shakespeare's fancy would have played around 

 it in some glorified Athenian wood. AMiat fun Puck would 

 have had with it. How lucid would haA'c been Bottom's com- 

 ments. W e ha\'e another species known as pine-sap in which 

 there are numerous delicate pink flowers. It is hardly as com- 

 mon as the other. 



Akin to these plants, and blooming at the same time in 

 similar places, are the pyrolas or shin-leaves. What infertilitv 

 of resource is shown in this abominable common name applied 

 to things so exquisite. If some of the ingenuity shown in be- 

 deviling our scientific nomenclature were spent in coining really 

 beautiful and appropriate common names for common things 

 there would be hope for us. We have, however, regretfully to 



