290 



NATIVE PLANTS OF FIELD, FOREST AND GARDEN. 



Clintonia and Calla. — In this vicinity there is a 

 place known locally as the "pine swamp," which is, I 

 suppose, one of the wildest places in nature. I have 

 never penetrated its depths, as, unfortunately, it is only 

 accessible to "booted botanists," but have been the 

 pleased recipient of some rare plants which came from 

 there. 



Among other interesting specimens was one of Clin- 

 tonia Iwrcalis in full bloom, one which would have de- 

 lighted the heart of any botanist, as it was perfect, every 

 part present, from the slender creeping root-stock to the 

 beautiful umbel of nodding flowers. There were four 

 of these, I think, of a peculiar greenish yellow ; lilaceous 

 in form, of six spreading segments, with a stamen inserted 

 at the base of each. The fila- 

 ments are long and thread- 

 like, and bear oblong an- 

 thers, fixed at a point above 

 the base and opening out- 

 ward toward the corolla. 

 The style is long, with stig- 

 mas united into one. The 

 naked scape is enclosed at 

 the base in the stalks of the 

 large oblong leaves. These 

 are smooth and glossy, rich 

 in coloring and prettily 

 veined. They tell me that 

 it bears blue ber- 

 ries, b u t these I 

 have never seen. 



Another treasure 

 of my collection was 

 the Calla palustris 

 (Fig. 9). This has 

 been found since in 

 several placesin this 

 vicinity — always in 

 water or near it, I 

 believe. It belongs 

 to the Araceae, and 

 is sometimes called 

 water arum. In 

 beauty it cannot 

 compare with the 

 cultivated calla, but 

 in interest is fully its equal 

 rhizome from which rises a thick scape five or six inches 

 high, bearing an open spathe, white above and greenish 

 below. It is clasping below and ends with a curious, 

 twisted cusp, the whole much longer than the cylindrical 

 spadix. This is covered with flowers, of which the lower 

 are perfect and the upper often consist of stamens only, 

 surrounded by the one-celled ovary. The leaves are 

 long-petioled and heart-shaped, with conspicuous veins. 

 Upon the whole, it is an interesting plant, and I was 

 pleased to learn that it was a native of this locality. 

 The cultivated calla is really not a calla at all, but a 

 richardia. — S. E. Kennedy, Rhode Island. 



The Catalpa. — One of the most ornamental and dec- 



FlG. 



This, too, has a creeping 



orative of trees is the catalpa. It might also be termed 

 one of the most useful ; for, aside from its being a thing 

 of wondrous beauty, it is of much practical value as a 

 fine shade tree, its growth and development being vigor- 

 ous and grateful. It is especially favored as a shade 

 tree, as its foliage does not develop early in the season — 

 not until the sun's rays have become oppressive. And 

 then, as if by magic, the leaves shoot forth like innumer- 

 able huge fans, of delightful green. 



The leaf is heart-shaped, thick and leathery. The 

 stems are stiff, so the leaves do not droop. Consequent- 

 ly, although its foliage is extremely dense and a most 

 effectual screen against the sun's most piercing rays, it 

 does not interfere with even the faintest breeze. On the 

 contrary, the great fan-like 

 leaves seem to generate 

 air or wind. As the gen- 

 tle zephyrs play amidst 

 these unique fans, their 

 motion increases the cur- 

 rent of air, and hence the 

 cooling effects of the 

 breeze This is an agree- 

 able point in mid-summer. 

 Its habit has the same con- 

 sideration for man's com- 

 fort in the fall, for it sheds 

 its great leaves with the 

 first heavy frosts, 

 at a time when 

 unobstructed sun- 

 shine is highly 

 prized. 



The blossoms, ap- 

 pear in clusters al- 

 m o s t simultan- 

 eously with the 

 foliage. They are 

 of delicate white, 

 with richly marked 

 centers in yellow 

 to orange, deepen- 

 ing to brown with 

 the maturity of the 

 flower. The per- 

 fume is exquisite. 



The illustration can serve simply as an idea suggestive 

 of the beautiful original. Nothing but the eye can do 

 justice to its rare beauty. 



It is only within quite recent years that the cultivation 

 of the catalpa has been attempted in colder climates, and 

 it has successfully withstood the test of successive and 

 severe winters in northern states — a conclusive proof of 

 its hardiness. The only precaution to be observed is 

 that the seedling, or two-year-old, as the case may be, 

 shall have had a good start before cold weather sets in. 

 This is essential because the terminal tips do not have 

 time to ripen, and hence they do not grow the next year. 

 This, however, does not deserve to be called "winter 

 killed," for the ripened wood is perfectly hardy. The 



Catalpa Flower. 



