BLACKBERRY LILY

(Gemmingia Ciminensis; Pardanthus Chinensis of Gray) Iris

family



Flowers - Deep orange color, speckled irregularly with crimson

and purple within (Pardos = leopard; anthos = flower); borne in

terminal, forked clusters. Perianth of 6 oblong, petal-like,

spreading divisions; 6 stamens with linear anthers; style

thickest above, with 3 branches. Stem: 1 1/2 to 4 ft. tall,

leafy. Leaves: Like the iris; erect, folded blades, 8 to 10 in.

long. Fruit: Resembling a blackberry; an erect mass of round,

black, fleshy seeds, at first concealed in a fig-shaped capsule,

whose 3 valves curve backward, and finally drop off.

Preferred habitat - Roadsides and hills.

Flowering Season - June-July.

Distribution - Connecticut to Georgia, westward to Indiana and

Missouri.



How many beautiful foreign flowers, commonly grown in our gardens

here, might soon become naturalized Americans were we only

generous enough to lift a few plants, scatter a few seeds over

our fences into the fields and roadsides - to raise the bars of

their prison, as it were, and let them free! Many have run away,

to be sure. Once across the wide Atlantic, or wider Pacific,

their passage paid (not sneaking in among the ballast like the

more fortunate weeds), some are doomed to stay in prim, rigidly

cultivated flower beds forever; others, only until a chance to

bolt for freedom presents itself, and away they go. Lucky are

they if every flower they produce is not picked before a single

seed can be set.



This blackberry lily of gorgeous hue originally came from China.

Escaping from gardens here and there, it was first reported as a

wild flower at East Rock, Connecticut; other groups of vagabonds

were met marching along the roadsides on Long Island; near

Suffern, New York; then farther southward and westward, until it

has already attained a very respectable range. Every plant has

some good device for sending its offspring away from home to

found new colonies, if man would but let it alone. Better still,

give the eager travelers a lift!