118 Erythronium Americanum.
pressed; anthers compressed, flat. Germ pyriform-triangular. Stigma
clavate or prismatic, entire, internally pubescent, yellowish-
green, tapering downwards towards the germ. Style fistulous.
Flowers in April and early in May. Inhabits the shaded banks of
rivulets, and small water-courses, from Canada to Georgia.
The genus Erythronium is derived from '**»**sj red, in allusion, it
is conjectured, either to the colour of the flowers, or the more unusual
“ blood stain” marks on the leaves. There appears to be at
most two North American species, the present one being the most
common. The root is farinaceous, and probably esculent after boiling,
like that of Erythonium dens canis, which affords food to the
Tartars.
Fig. 1. Represents the plant, of its natural size, cut from Fig. S.
3. The root and subterraneous portion of the stem.
3. An outline of such leaves as generally appertain to the first
year’s plant. Occasionally flowering specimens are found
with two leaves like this.
4. Germ and stigma.
5. Stamen.
6. An inner petal.