224 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[June, 
(t^dH£, 
understand without descriptions, and which 
would scarcely be interesting to others. 
Probably one reason why the insect has not 
been noticed before is that its color so close- 
ly resembles that of the Yucca flower that 
it may be readily 
overlooked. The 
insects appear to be 
most active at night, 
at which time, by 
the aid of a lantern, 
their operations 
may be watched. 
With regard to the 
fruiting of the Yuc- 
ca in Europe, Sir. 
Riley thinks the in- 
sect may have been 
carried over in the 
seeds, or that some 
related insect may 
perform the same 
office, a point which 
no doubt Euro- 
pean observers will 
investigate. The 
principal observa- 
tions in regard to 
this insect have been made upon the common 
Yucca filamentosa and Y. angustifolia. As there 
are several others in the South, and especially 
in the far West, it is hoped that some of our 
readers will take the trouble to watch them 
when in bloom, with a view to the action of 
insects, and report the result to Mr. Riley. 
. — . mmm — »— — 
The Twin-flower— Linnaea. 
Those at all familiar with plants are aware 
that many genera are named in honor of per- 
sons. This distinction 
should be bestowed ex- 
clusively upon those emi- 
nent in the science of 
botany; hut, unfortunate- 
ly, some botanists have 
had the had taste to mime 
genera after distinguished 
soldiers, politicians, and 
others who, however de- 
serving they may be in 
other respects, have no 
claim to be botanically 
commemorated. Some of 
the most eminent botanists 
have had their names 
bestowed upon plants that 
in the general estimation 
are neither conspicuous 
nor beautiful. In the eye 
of the botanist, those quali- 
ties which make a flower 
popular are of second- 
ary consideration. The name of Linnceus, the 
great master in Botany, is borne by a plant that, 
though humble iu size, is one of great delicacy 
and beauty. It is a little creeping evergreen- 
vine, about twice as large as is represented 
in the engraving. It belongs to the Honeysuckle 
Family, and as each slender, upright stalk bears 
two flowers, it has received the common name 
of Twin-flower. The flowers are white, often 
tinged with pink or purple, delicately fragrant, 
and droop with a modest air that is very charm- 
ing. It is found usually in moist woods, where 
it forms a dense carpet. It is an excellent plant 
for a shady rock-work, and when once estab- 
lished grows rapidly. In England, it is some- 
times cultivated in pots of peaty earth. The 
plant was discovered by Linnaeus in Lapland 
in 1732, and his friend Gronovius later gave it 
the name of the discoverer. Iu the well-known 
portrait of Liunseus he is represented in his 
the twin-flower. — {hinnma borealis.) 
traveling suit with a cluster of the Twin-flower 
in his hand. The Linniea is a peculiarly 
northern plant, as its specific name, borealis, 
would indicate; and is found in both continents. 
With us it is very common northward, and is 
found sparingly as far south as New Jersey and 
Maryland. Aside from its intrinsic beauty, the 
THE SESSILE WAKE-ROBIN. 
plant is a favorite with all who love wild flow- 
ers, and more especially with botanists, who very 
properly regard it with great interest and affec- 
tion on account of the illustrious name it bears. 
Wake-Sobins— Trilliums. 
The genus Trillium is a purely American 
one, with the exception of one species found in 
Japan, a country the flora of which bears 
a marked resem- 
blance to that of 
our Atlantic States. 
There are about ten 
species, all of which 
are interesting, and 
some sufficiently 
showy to claim a 
place among the 
choice flowers of 
our borders. Iu 
December, 1871, we 
gave an engraving 
of Trillium erectum, 
which with the al- 
lied T. grrtndiflorvm 
is gradually making 
its way into cultiva- 
tion, and we now 
present an illustra- 
tion of a quite dis- 
tinct species, T. ses- 
sile. The Trilliums 
would not at first sight be placed in the 
Lily Family, as their general appearance is 
so unlike that of the Lily; yet the structure 
of the flowers is such that recent botanists have 
thus classed it. The genus gets its name from 
the Latin for triple, the parts of the plant being 
in threes; we have three leaves upon the stem, 
three parts to each calyx and corolla, twice 
three stamens, and the parts of the pistil in 
threes. They all have a tuber-like root stock 
from which arise a few simple stems about a 
foot high, each bearing three broad leaves, and 
above these the flower, which is either elevated 
above the leaves, upon a 
stem, or sessile close 
among them, as in the 
case of the one here fig- 
ured. The flower, shown 
of the natural size, is a 
dark purple or maroon 
color, but the great beauty 
of the plant lies in the 
leaves, which are finely 
vnriegated or marbled 
with a very pale and a 
dark green, and when 
perfect equal in richness 
some of the choice exotic 
"foliage plants" of the 
green houses. This species 
is found from Pennsylva- 
nia and Wisconsin, south- 
ward; and in South Caro- 
lina and Florida there is 
a closely allied species, T. 
discolor, which has still 
more strongly marked leaves, but otherwise 
very near this one. The Trilliums will grow in 
any good garden soil that will not become too 
dry in summer, and when they become well 
established, a process requiring a year or two, 
take care of themselves and unfold their flowers 
each spring. Those wlo can readily find these 
plants in their native localities will be amply 
repaid for the trouble of removing them to the 
garden. It is rarely that we see Trilliums offer- 
ed by our florists, and one who wishes to pur- 
chase them, as well as many other American 
plants, will have to send to Europe for 
them. The species we have here enumerated 
are the showiest, but all are pleasing. 
