The mitre-wort resembles the foam-flower in foliage, but bears its delicate crystal-like flowers in a more slender raceme. It also is found in the rich woods, blossoming somewhat later.
Indian Poke. False Hellebore.
Veratrum viride. Lily Family.
Root.—Poisonous, coarse and fibrous. Stem.—Stout, two to seven feet high, very leafy to the top. Leaves.—Broadly oval, pointed, clasping. Flowers.—Dull greenish, inconspicuous, clustered. Perianth.—Of six spreading sepals. Stamens.—Six. Pistil.—One, with three styles.
When we go to the swampy woods in March or April we notice an array of green, solid-looking spears which have just appeared above the ground. If we handle one of these we are impressed with its firmness and rigidity. When the increasing warmth and sunshine have tempted the veiny, many-plaited leaves of the false hellebore to unfold themselves it is difficult to realize that they composed that sturdy tool which so effectively tunnelled its way upward to the earth’s surface. The tall stems and large bright leaves of this plant are very noticeable in the early year, forming conspicuous masses of foliage while the trees and shrubs are still almost leafless. The dingy flowers which appear later rarely attract attention.
Carrion-flower. Cat-brier.
Smilax herbacea. Lily Family.
Stem.—Climbing, three to fifteen feet high. Leaves.—Ovate, or rounded heart-shaped, or abruptly cut off at base, shining. Flowers.—Greenish or yellowish, small, clustered, unisexual. Perianth.—Six-parted. Stamens.—six. Pistil.—One, with three spreading stigmas. (Stamens and pistils occurring on different plants.) Fruit.—A bluish-black berry.
One whiff of the foul breath of the carrion flower suffices for its identification. Thoreau likens its odor to that of “a dead rat in the wall.” It seems unfortunate that this strikingly handsome plant which clambers so ornamentally over the luxuriant thickets which border our lanes and streams, should be so handicapped each June. Happily with the disappearance of the blossoms, it takes its place as one of the most attractive of our climbers.
The common green-brier, S. rotundifolia, is a near relation which is easily distinguished by its prickly stem.
The dark berries and deeply tinted leaves of this genus add greatly to the glorious autumnal display along our roadsides and in the woods and meadows.