The small flower is indeterminate in shape, with an oblong down-bent lip, all the other parts being erect and holding their tips together; the throat is round and hollow; the texture is waxen and the color white, or sometimes tinged with faint dull yellow. The flowers, set down in the hold of enfolding, green sheath-like bracts whose pointed tips curve over the blossoms, are arranged in rows to form a close spike. The twisting of the flower-stem causes the ranks of blossoms to appear to be placed in a spiral arrangement. The flowers have a cloying perfume. [Illustration: LADY’S TRESSES: Spiranthes Romanzoffiana.] *Lady’s Tresses.* _Spiranthes præcox._ Found in moist meadows and waysides during September and October. The erect stalk varies in height from 4 to 12 inches; it is round and smooth; light green or pale in color. The long slender root-leaves (one or two), which rise from the ground, are tapering at the base, firm and thick of fibre, and smooth to the touch; the color is yellowish-green. A few sheathing little leaves occur along the stalk. The small flower is very like _S. Romanzoffiana_, with a curving lip, and crinkled margins; in color it is pearly white. It is enfolded in an oval, small, green leafy bract. The flowers are oddly arranged, in a single much twisted row, forming a spiral spike. The blossoms are sweet scented. [Illustration: LADY’S TRESSES: S. præcox.] IRIS FAMILY. IRIDACEÆ. *Wild Iris.* _Iris versicolor._ *Larger Blue Flag.* Found by runlets and in moist meadows, in June. The rootstock sends up several leaves ensheathing the flower-stem. The leaf is sword-shaped, long, narrow, and pointed, with a narrow, light, ribbon-like finish to its edge; the inconspicuous ribs are grass-like. Its color is a cool, light green, with traces of dull violet near the foot. Several leaves overlap one another at the base. The flower is large, with 9 petal-like parts, growing in sets of threes; the 3 outer parts are broad, spreading, and curving downwards more or less,--in color violet, marked with white and yellow, and delicately lined with dark violet; the 3 parts that alternate with these are smaller, erect, and taper to a narrow foot at the base,--in color they are violet; the pistil is in 8 petal-like parts, which curve back, over the broad outer divisions, with a fine arch (under which the stamens may be found),---they are cleft at the tips, and in color are violet, darker at the tips, and reddish on the arch. The texture of the flower is exceedingly fine and delicate. It grows from the summit of the 3-angled green seed-case, which is borne on a tall, leafy, green stem; this stem is slightly flattened on opposite sides, and is smooth and polished of surface.