Two leaves and the single flower-stem, which is about 6 or 8 inches in height, rise from the root. The leaves are long and oval, tapering at the tip, with an entire margin, of a thick and juicy texture, and a smooth surface that is cool to the touch. The color is green with a bloom upon it, and mottled and streaked with dull red, which appears very strongly in the midrib and near the base of the leaf. The flower is nodding and lily like in its general character; formed of 6 long taper-pointed petal-like calyx-parts. A ridge runs down the middle of each of the 3 inner parts. The flower is yellow; dark reddish on the outside of the outer divisions, and spotted with minute reddish dots on the inside of the inner divisions. The 6 stamens are large and yellow, and the pale greenish-yellow pistil is club-shaped, with 3 grooves. The flower-stem is round, smooth, and pale; it grows from between the two leaves. In the sun the flower opens wide, its three outer divisions rolling back, and exhales a fragrant smell like that of new lilac shoots; the markings on the leaves are richer in color when the plant grows in more shaded places. It is a communistic plant, and exceeding capricious in withholding its bloom when transplanted. [Illustration: ADDER’S-TONGUE: Erythronium Americanum.] *Red Trillium.* _Trillium erectum._ *Purple Trillium.* *Red Benjamin.* *Bumble-bee-root.* *Squaw-root.* *Wake Robin.* Found in the shade of damp woods, in May. The simple stalk, varying from 6 to 12 inches in height, bears a whorl of leaves on its summit (from which springs the flower); it is large, round, juicy and smooth, and a deep or purplish-red color at the foot, but light green near the top. The large and handsome leaf is a diamond shape, of about equal width and length, pointed at both ends; its ribs and veins form a stout and important framework, the margin is entire, texture loose, and the surface is shining underneath though not above; the color is a full green, tinged with pink at the base. Three leaves are set in a whorl. The flower also is rather large; its 3 long oval petals are thin and close in texture, and colored a rich deep maroon-red, the underside inclining to purple, with parallel veins marked with a darker color. The calyx is 3-parted, the divisions shorter and more pointed than the petals; of a green color, edged and veined with red. The petals and calyx-parts spread alternately around the base of the prominent, 3-parted, conical, dark crimson pistil, and the 6 erect stamens, with their pale yellow or white tips. The single flower, on a square or round stem, springs from the whorl of leaves. Though not strong in odor, its quality is rather rank. The flower-stem usually inclines to one side. When the plant first rises from the ground the leaves are close folded about the sharply-conical flower bud. White or greenish flowers are sometimes found instead of deep red.