Fig. 35
The flowers of the partridge vine always grow in twos. The seedboxes of these two flowers are joined in one. So when the flowers fade away, only the one seedbox is left. When this ripens, it becomes the partridge berry; and the two little holes show where the two flowers were fastened to the seedbox.
Try not to forget this, and early next July be sure to go to the woods and look for the little sister flowers. Perhaps their delicious fragrance will help you in your hunt for their hiding place. Then see for yourselves how the two blossoms have but one seedbox between them (Fig. [35]).
Now, we must take care not to wet our feet, for the ground is getting damp. We are coming to that lovely spot where the brook winds beneath the hemlocks after making its leap down the rocks. What is that flaming red spot against the gray rock yonder?
As we draw nearer, we see that a quantity of scarlet berries are closely packed upon a thick stalk (Fig. [36]).
Do you know the name of the plant which owns this flaming fruit?
If you were in these woods last May, at every turn you met one of those quaint little fellows we call “Jack-in-the-pulpit.”
Fig. 36