The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-05-11
Maine Wild Flowers,
Some of the Earliest Native Wild Flowers to
BE Found in Our Fields and Woods
Miss Mary f. Rogers, before Sagadahoc

Some of the Earliest Native Wild Flowers to
BE Found in Our Fields and Woods.
Miss Mary f. Rogers, before Sagadahoc
Pomona Grange
The earliest, and perhaps the most popu-
lar flower of the spring, is the Trailing
Arbutus, Epigoea repens) commonly
known as the Mayhower. There are but
few people who have not searched the
woods and pastures for the fragrant pink
and white blossoms The beauty and
fragrance of this plant are not the only
virtues it possesses, for the leaves when
stepped, are said to be very soothing to
| the nerves.
The next flower in popularity is the
| Violet, Hearts ease, or Powsy. Viola
ceae) which is of three colors. The blue
and white varieties are the most com
mon and are too we'll known to need de-
scription. The yellow violet is much
larger and more fragrant than the others
and also very durable. 1t is found only
in moist, sheltered places.
| Another rare plant of our woods is
called ''Jack in the Pulpit (Artocarpus
integrifola). The center of this flower
is a spike of dark crimson color, which
is surrounded by crimson and green
leaf, bending over at the top, and SC
making covering for the delicate centre
of the blossoms. The shape of this Gu
rious flower is thought to resemble
preacher in his pulpit and from this fact
it takes its name.
The Trillium or American wood lily,
Wake Robin, Niliaceoe), is found in
great abundance in moist places in the
woods Che color is crimson and white
The flower has three petals and the
leaves are very dark green. 1t is not
much sought after on account of its re-
pulsive odor. 1t is very sensitive plant
and if held in the band a short time will
wilt and will not revive in water. 1t
usually blooms in June.
The Ground Nut (Apios tuberosa) is
very common plant and is distinguished
from others of its class only by it's root,
which is long and slender, having a small
round nut at the end. This nut when
dried is very paatable, but when first
taken from the ground has an unpleasant
| flavor.
The Herpatica and Anemone Wind
Flower, (Ranunculaceae(, bloom very
early in the summer and closely resemble
each other Both of these plants have
small white blossoms and heart shaped
leaves. They grow in clusters somewhat
! like the violet The anemone is found
near brooks and is sometimes called the
river flower The herpatica is very rare.
, A delicate flower of the woods is Twin
Sisters probably the Linnaea borealis).
This plant has the form of vine and
never grows more than three inches in
height. The blossoms are close together
and on each stalk are two bell shaped
pink flowers; they have very faint, but
pleasant odor which can hardly be per-
| i l.
SONS together.
Another very common flower is Wild
Oats. 1t blooms early in the spring and
grows about six inches in height. 1t has
! long blade shaped leaves and bell shaped
blossoms of pale yellow The blossoms
always droop downward so that the
shape of the flower will be seen only by
close observation. 1t can usually be
found in warm, sunny places, in the open
| fields and around lodges.
! Still another we'll known plant is Solo
mons Seal, (Polygonatum multifiorum).
| 1t grows something like a lily, having
broad, light green leaves covered with
spots of still lighter shade The bios
SONS are yellow and are arranged on
long stalk like the lily of a valley. The
blossoms near the root open first, and
those at the end of the stalk much later;
IN TINS way the plant keeps IN DlOOm a
| large part of the season The fruit is at
first a small green berry but grows quite
large during the summer, and in the au-
tumn changes to a bright crimson and is
very ornamental.
The Italian Cucumber is one of the most
peculiar plants which we see because of
it's root. 1t grows about two feet in
height and has a long slender stalk, on
which at intervals of three inches is
circle of leaves There is but one small
blossom on this tall plant and that is so
small that it is hardly worth mentioning.
1t is corn color and has scarlet centre.
The most curious part is the root, which
greatly resembles a cucumber. If re-
moved from the ground carefully and the
stalks separated from the root the re-
semblance is almost perfect. The root
hardly ever exceeds four inches in length
and when bitten is very crisp.
The plants which have mentioned are
but few of the many which bloom in our
fields and woods during the spring and
summer months; but the fear of taxing
your patience fOrbids me to mention